Want to learn more about how to keep up with the digital transition? Enrol to the URBACT Moodle!
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URBACT
10 October, from 11.30 to 13.00 (CET)
SQUARE Brussels Meeting Centre, Room 210
Session code: 10PL23523
Across Europe, local and regional administrations use various technological and digital solutions to facilitate the green transition: from mobility to resource efficiency, greening spaces, waste management, air pollution and food consumption. For the 21st edition of the European Week of Regions and Cities, URBACT is co-delivering a session to delve into the complexity of environmental challenges vis-à-vis urban and territorial policies and practice, and examples of key tech tools that support the effort to reduce environmental harm, carbon footprint and emissions caused by human activities.
Together with the Horizon Europe KNOWING project, URBACT will bring together city representatives to share their vision and smart solutions developed with technology in the fight against climate change. Hear from speakers coming from Tallinn (EE), Fundão (PT) and Vienna (AT). Participants will learn and exchange about:
Among its core objectives, the EU cohesion policy has set as a first priority to create a more competitive and smarter Europe. But what does it mean to take the leap towards the digital transition? Read on to get a glimpse of how URBACT cities have faced today's challenges using tech solutions and ideas.
Piraeus (EL)
Blue Growth Entrepreneurship Competition
As part of its efforts to create new jobs and innovation opportunities within the local economy, Piraeus launched its blue growth entrepreneurship competition, which is recognised as an URBACT Good Practice. As a coastal city, with a strong maritime industry, it’s in the best interest of the city and its citizens to explore and take a dive into the blue economy. At the core of its practices it’s a contest, where business plans are prepared and submitted by aspiring entrepreneurs and then compared and judged against a set of predetermined criteria. The aim is to get potential entrepreneurs to explore new opportunities and set up growth opportunities within the digital economy.
One past winner is the Ferryhopper – an online ferry-ticketing marketplace that helps consumers with access to multi-trip tickets, which are sold by a whole range of different transport operators. This competition is an interesting example of how to intersectional priorities, with tech and digital opportunities in mind, can offer a huge potential. Piraeu’s experience has led the city to become Lead Partner in two Transfer Networks: BluAct (2018 - 2021) and BluAct Second Wave (2021 - 2023). The results have been outstanding and this Good Practice has become a source of inspiration beyond the EU. Most recently, the United Nations Development Programme has taken interest in it and the BluAct team has presented its work to citymakers in different countries.
Promotional video for the competition led by Mataro (ES), Project Partner of the BluAct Transfer Network
Jelgava (LV)
Supporting environmental data
As a Project Partner of the IoTxChange Action Planning Network (2019 – 2022), which was led by Fundão (PT), the city of Jelgava uses Internet of Things sensor technology since July 2021 to measure local meteo and environmental data. The municipality has seized the testing activities budget to use IoT as a policy instrument for the city change, with an overall goal to support farmers, other stakeholders and, more broadly, the civil society. As a pilot, Jelgava installed four stations with IoT connections in the downtown and farmers’ premises. Different type of data is collected – air temperature, soil humidity, rainfall, wind speed and wind direction – using two different heights, at 2 and 10 meters high, which is considered as proof of concept for the data validation, which should play a role if new sensors should be put into place.
Bassa Romagna (IT)
An app for sustainable food chain
Comprised by nine municipalities, the Union of Bassa Romagna took part in the FOOD CORRIDORS Action Planning Network (2019 – 2022) to promote sustainable food systems in the framework of health, environment and climate change. Using an integrated approach, this territory has chosen to focus on the local economy by, among other things, enabling the creation of food start-ups and relying on tech to innovate the local value chain. When it came to social and environmental aspects, the concept of proximity, also known as “food to fork” or “0 km”, was key. Together with their URBACT Local Group, the municipalities planned different actions on food redistribution to support NGOs and tackle poverty, while avoiding waste – a surplus for solidarity.
Other actions included territorial marketing initiatives to support responsible and health local food consumption. In addition, during the lifespan of the network, people became increasingly aware of the potential of digital tools, due to the pandemic’s constraints. Such context and ambitions led the network to use its testing activities budget to develop a brand new app. Currently available for Android phones, the app collects the geolocation of local producers, featuring the history of the companies, local markets and even tourism farms and other information for citizens and potential consumers in the area. New features are still on the making, notably for creating a repertory of typical local products. Other functionalities are also under reflection, such as food redistribution.
Saint Quentin (FR)
Engaging all citizens in the digital revolution
Saint Quentin’s has taken part in two Action Planning Networks (2019 – 2022), DigiPlace and ACTIVE CITIZENS. Following a strong political desire to face the main challenges of the future together – and implementing its 2050 strategy with a people-centric city approach – the city has also defined its digital plan. Based upon the principles to use new technologies to promote sustainable development, reduce costs and support local stakeholders in the ownership of digital tools, the city wanted to tackle the digital divide. Even if most public administrative services were made digital – as taxes and health services – about 20% of the local population were still feeling excluded to a lack of digital skills. This has prompted the city to invest, mainly through municipality, regional and state funds and other local resources, in activities to get closer to citizens, in simple but effective ways. The city has established several Solidarity Hubs, community spaces where people can access ICT facilities and support. Social cohesion is at the heart of ACTIVE CITIZENS, reason why the network was an occasion to further explore an involve locals in this inclusion process.
Barnsley (UK)
Adapt or die
As a British medium-sized city with big ambitions, the city has long been keen to develop a “new” economy based on innovation and the Industry 4.0, following the contracting of the mining industry in the 1980’s. A story many European cities and towns can relate to. To this end, for more than a decade the city has committed to growing higher value jobs, particularly within its creative, tech and digital sectors. At the heart of recent successes are the Barnsley Enterprise – an entrepreneurship programme, providing a one-stop-shop for local businesses that seek the City Council’s support – and the Digital Media Centres, physical hubs for creative and digital initiatives.
Barnsley was awarded an URBACT Good Practice label and has led three URBACT projects: the TechTown Action Planning Network (2015 – 2018) and the Transfer Networks Tech Revolution (2018 – 2021) and Tech Revolution 2.0 (2021 – 2023). Thanks to these experiences, the local council has developed beyond the town itself and, in 2022, was asked to pilot a regional digital strategy. Such achievement will allow the city to carry on its principles, while expanding its activities including in universities, residential, retail and travel facilities.
Barnsley (UK) interview during the Lisbon URBACT City Festival in 2018
Nyiregyhaza (HU)
An active business system to support the digital economy
Through its participation in the TechTown Action Planning Network (2015 - 2018) and, later, in the Tech Revolution Transfer Network (2018 - 2021), Nyiregyhaza has witnessed big transformations. The city has set up an active – and coordinated – business support service within its arms length Industrial Park Company. The city is now home to a new Technology and Innovation Centre with a stable operating budget, provided by the municipality, and with six full-time staff members, working on economic development, business support and investment promotion. The mayor now lists economic development and job creation as key priorities and seeks to focus on growth within the digital economy.
Oulu (FI)
Smart bins and digital twins
During its participation in the DigiPlace Action Planning Network (2019 – 2022), the city of Oulu (FI) collaborated with a start-up to develop an app for enabling waste collection on-demand for citizens as well as active monitoring of municipal waste bins. The on-demand option allows residents to use the app to request a collection when their bin is getting full, which leads to a collection being dynamically scheduled into the waste company’s collection route. This uses AI algorithms to calculate the optimal route for waste collection vehicles to move around the bins that need to be collected in the most efficient manner, only visiting bins when needed. A similar algorithm is linked with the municipal bin monitoring system, which tracks how much waste is in over 1 000 of the city’s bins using sensors, and schedules bins into the collection cycle when they become close to being full.
This experience has resulted in a 40% reduction in both the number of collections and of the number of vehicles needed in the fleet, with the associated reductions in cost and carbon emissions. Similarly, the Lead Partner of DigiPalce, the municipality of Messina (IT), has active management of its waste services using a network of sensors, cameras and associated machine learning and AI algorithms. These are both great examples of existing technology and know-how – IoT sensors, route optimisation, machine learning and video recognition – being combined to tackle real city challenges or to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of city services, while also learning from peers.
Bielsko – Biala (PL)
Creating a digital economy
Through their participation in the AS-TRANSFER Network (2021 – 2023) – a pilot collaboration between URBACT and the Urban Innovative Actions (UIA) to mainstream the lessons learnt from previous project – the municipality of Bielsko-Biala has drawn inspiration from the AS-FABRIK initiative in Bilbao (ES). The original project consisted of developing a comprehensive concept that offered new training schemes, partnerships and actions to accelerate digitalisation and boost innovation startups in the Spanish city. Throughout the pilot, the Polish city has developed in a participatory way an investment plan to further seize the Industry 4.0. The city has long been a pioneer when it comes to tech. Back in 2014, Biesko-Biala opened its first creative space and Poland’s first ever FabLab. If successful, the investment plan will enable the city to create a well-connected and vivid local innovation ecosystem with its existing Digital Innovation Hub at heart.
Aveiro (PT)
A card to simplify local services
Following Aveiro’s participation in the CARD4ALL Transfer Network (2018 – 2021), the city has become known as a digital cluster, a territory of innovation with a strong knowledge economy, dynamic university, centre for telecoms R&D, and innovative firms in the digital and traditional sectors. However, the increasing development of new digital solutions had created a complex system of providers, interfaces and information sources for various services around the city, which was increasingly hard for local people to navigate.The Municipality has been wanting In an attempt to simplify citizens’ access to public services and transform Aveiro into a smarter, more open, resilient and inclusive society, the municipality an Urban Innovative Actions (UIA) project in 2018. The Aveiro STEAM CITY, supporting the adoption of 5G and Internet of Things technologies. Based on the URBACT Good Practice of Gijon (ES), the Lead Partner from CARD4ALL, Aveiro has started by introducing a common card for all students across its different schools.
All services provided by the municipality and schools can be managed and paid with it. This includes the cafeteria, school supplies, photocopying, even access to the buildings and school-day extensions. Crucial preparatory actions included mapping different systems to ensure compatibility and ease of use. Almost simultaneously, the city also activated new online services, with a wide range of options. Today, different municipal departments are working together to create a broader citizen card system covering almost all sectors of local life, including mobility, education, sports, culture, tourism and IT. Each department acts as an intermediary with their own external service providers and concession holders, encouraging strong cross-sectoral cooperation.
Keeping up with the Digital Transition
URBACT's brand new online course
URBACT is committed to improving the digital transition in all programme activities: in EU responses to urban challenges and in the planning processes of all URBACT cities. Unsurprisingly, digital is among the three crosscutting priorities for this programming period (2021 - 2027) – alongside the green and the gender themes. Time after time, the programme has supported the knowledge dissemination on the subject, with TechPlace and, most recently, the Keeping Up with the Digital Transition Moodle, which is open to anyone who takes an interest in this topic.
Digital solutions and ideas are coming at us thick and fast, and it can be hard for city staff and politicians to keep up. It’s therefore important for cities to be able to navigate around this universe and take advantage of its full potential. Cities have a vital role to play in the digital transition, alongside the private sector. From green matters to participative governance, from education to economy, digital solutions can help urban practitioners to deliver better and more integrated approaches at local level. Start the course now and build your capacities!
Ve společnosti roste množství dat, zvyšuje se tedy potřeba je sbírat cíleně a výběrově, ale zároveň využívat již existující datové zdroje a propojovat je navzájem.
Nejinak je tomu i v oblasti městského rozvoje. Datová vybavenost roste nejen v souvislosti s tím, že je existence a správa určitých dat vyžadována zákonem (v oblasti školství, matrik, územně analytických podkladů ad.), municipality jsou si také vědomy, že detailní data, jejich propojení a interpretace mohou velmi pomoci při nastavování opatření, která povedou k efektivní správě. Nemusí se ale jednat pouze o vlastní sběr dat na úrovni obce, relevantní data ve veřejném prostoru často již existují.
Proč jsou data důležitá pro veřejnou správu?
⪼ Lepší veřejná správa a management.
⪼ Finanční a časová efektivita – možnost cílit opatření chytře a ve vhodném rozsahu tam, kde je jich nejvíce potřeba a ne plošně.
⪼ Nová data nebo nová kombinace dat mohou přinést nové perspektivy a nadhled na situaci.
⪼ Možnost přinést do veřejné správy nové vědecké poznatky, využití zkušeností z jiných regionů.
Jaká data mají obce nejčastěji k dispozici?
⪼ Vlastní sběr dat – data sbíraná na základě zákonné povinnosti.
⪼ Data sbíraná v souvislosti s lepší správou města – obec se rozhodne sbírat konkrétní data nad rámec zákonné povinnosti nebo i lépe využívat propojovat data.
⪼ Veřejně dostupná data – sbírá a produkuje je jiný subjekt (např. orgán státní správy, úřad, akademická sféra, ale i soukromá sféra) a poskytuje je veřejnosti (nebo jen veřejné správě) zdarma.
⪼ Soukromá data – vlastník dat je za úplatek poskytuje dalším subjektům.
Kde získat konkrétní data
Data na nadnárodní úrovni – většinou se jedná o data za EU, umožňují srovnání s dalšími státy, ale často jsou pouze za velké územní celky, nejčastěji za celý stát nebo úroveň NUTS2 regionu. Využít lze Portál evropských dat, data ze statistického úřadu EU Eurostat, data produkovaná organizacemi OSN a OECD.
Očekávaný růst populace mezi lety 2021-2050 za NUTS2 regiony, Eurostat
Data poskytována orgány státní správy na národní úrovni – některé rezorty poskytují veřejnosti a municipalitám data, které tematicky souvisí s jejich působností. Data jsou poskytovaná ve formě konkrétních veřejných datasetů nebo v poslední době ministerstva zpřístupňují a vizualizují data pomocí softwarových nástrojů jako např. ArcGis online nebo Power Bi. Pro obce můžou být velmi relevantní data z Mapového portálu veřejné správy, který provozuje Ministerstvo vnitra, data z oblasti životního prostředí jsou dostupná na portálu Cenia, Ministerstvo pro místní rozvoj provozuje Mapový portál, který zobrazuje mj. informace o technické a občanské vybavenosti jednotlivých obcí.
Velmi užitečný je Monitor státní pokladny, který provozuje Ministerstvo financí, kde je možné sledovat čerpání rozpočtů jednotlivých obcí, strukturu jejich čerpání nebo výši zadluženosti obce. V oblasti dotací provozuje Ministerstvo financí Jednotný dotační portál, kde jsou zveřejněny aktuální otevřené výzvy jednotlivých národních dotačních titulů některých ministerstev a subjektů.
Monitor státní pokladny, Ministerstvo financí
Velkým zdrojem dat je především Český statistický úřad, který sbírá data průběžně – měsíčně, ročně, ale také provádí jednou za 10 let Sčítání lidí, domů a bytů. Všechna otevřená data ČSÚ jsou uvedena v Katalogu produktů ČSÚ, ve Veřejné databázi lze generovat základní data za konkrétní území, např. obec. Data ze Sčítání 2021 jsou zveřejňována postupně na webu Sčítání.
Užitečná data a podklady pro oblast územního plánování a regionální rozvoje poskytuje na svém webu ČÚZK. Zajímavé podklady pro municipality nabízí také agentura CzechInvest, například se jedná o data, která vznikla v rámci projektu Pasportizace podnikatelského prostředí včetně mapy vhodné lokalizace podnikatelských aktivit. CzechInvest také publikuje relevantní statistiky Česko v datech.
Další doplňkové zdroje dat – tato sekce popisuje další datové zdroje, která vznikají v neziskovém nebo soukromém sektoru, která mohou přinést nový úhel pohledu na společenská a ekonomická témata. Obce datech každoročně porovnává kvalitu života v českých obcích na základě vybraných ukazatelů. Web Zmapováno umožňuje porovnat vybraná území na základě konkrétních ukazatelů, podobné nabízí také prohlížečka regionálních dat DataPAQ od společnosti PAQ Research. Zajímavé jsou také výstupy datových novinářů, např. Mapa podnikání v Česku nebo Mapa rodáků.
Mapa kriminality, Otevřená společnost, o.p.s.
Data v oblasti veřejné správy a politiky zveřejňuje Hlídač státu, např. přehledy čerpání dotací a veřejných zdrojů a mnohé další. Otevřená společnost připravila např. Mapu exekucí, ale také Mapu kriminality. Existují také weby, které se věnují bezbariérovému pohybu ve městě – Mapa bez bariér nebo Vozejkmap. Atlas Čechů, který vyvinula společnost Behavio, zobrazuje sociologickou charakteristiku české společnosti. Existují také placené zdroje dat, např. Clevermaps.
Datové a prostorové podklady – pro oblasti vizualizace dat jsou potřebné také vhodné vrstvy, které tvoří podklad pro vizualizaci dat nebo samotná data pro analýzu. Základní vrstvu dat administrativního členění ČR doplněnou a údaje ČSÚ a základní statistiky z územně analytických podkladů poskytuje společnost Arcdata, zajímavý je třeba projekt Historický GIS Přírodovědecké fakulty Univerzity Karlovy, který zpřístupňuje historická prostorová a statistická data. Ze zahraničí se dají využít weby Open Layers nebo Free GIS Data, která poskytují širokou paletu datasetů.
Jak data využívat chytře a neztratit se v nich
Výše byly popsány možné zdroje dat. Jedná se o širokou nabídku, ze které si dá vybrat spoustu užitečných dat, ale zároveň může nastat zmatení nad tím, která data jsou potřebná a v jakých formátech. Dobré řízení není spojené jen s tím, že máme k dispozici širokou datovou základnu. Mnohem důležitější je umět si vybrat ta relevantní data a umět je vhodně zkombinovat a interpretovat. Jaká jsou tedy doporučení?
⪼ Zhodnoťte si jaká data a v jakých tematických oblastech jsou pro vás nejpotřebnější. Toto souvisí především s tématy vašeho strategického rozvoje. Jiná data jsou relevantní pro metropoli s dynamickým vývojem pracovního trhu a širokou a diverzifikovanou ekonomikou, jiná data jsou relevantní pro menší obec v hospodářsky a sociálně ohrožené oblasti.
⪼ Hlídejte původ a důvěryhodnost dat.
⪼ Upřednostňujte aktuální data a data za co nejrelevantnější velikost územní jednotky (pro plánování rozvoje obce s snažit pracovat s daty, která jsou sbírána na úrovni obce).
⪼ V datových analýzách je dobré výsledky za konkrétní obec srovnávat s daty podobných obcí nebo třeba s republikovým průměrem.
⪼ Pro oblasti, kde neexistují vhodná data, je vhodné provést vlastní sběr dat.
⪼ Často může být velmi přínosné pouze více sdílet již existující data v rámci úřadu. Všechna data by měla být vhodně kategorizována a lokalizována na jednom místě v rámci městského úřadu a dostupná všech zaměstnancům, jejichž pracovní agenda je vyžaduje.
This training aims to build the capacities of city-practitioners and policy-makers to understand the main concepts and challenges associated with digital transitions in a few key policy areas. The goal is to help them feel more comfortable in considering digital tools and new technologies as a way of delivering against policy goals.
WHO
Target Audience: the training isn’t for seasoned ‘techies’. Rather, it targets people who might self-define as tech ‘newbies’ and/or people from smaller and medium sized cities. This is because these are the places which have most to gain from understanding and embracing digital transition. The training has been developed by the TechPlace community, which is an online place for city practitioners and policy makers wanting to make a positive difference using tech. We’re building a community of interest and a safe place to exchange, learn and ask stupid questions. We welcome practitioners from across all URBACT cities and beyond.
HOW
The training is broken down into the following 6 modules, each one with a short video, written and video case studies, city use cases plus a range of handouts and some short tasks to help you check your understanding and progress. The modules are designed to be used together or in isolation so you can dip in and out or watch from the beginning to the end.
Digital solutions and ideas are coming at us thick and fast, and it can be hard for city staff and politicians to keep up. It’s therefore important for cities to be able to navigate around this universe and take advantage of its full potential. City administrations and municipalities have a vital role to play in the digital transition, alongside the private sector. From green matters to participative governance, from education to economy, digital solutions can help urban practitioners to deliver better and more integrated approaches at local level.
In the context of the open call for Action Planning Networks, this webinar will give you a snapshot of what URBACT means when it states that the digital transition is a crosscutting priority. Find out why – and how – cities can make the most of different digital solutions to face the most diverse urban challenges. In an hour and a half, this interactive session will introduce you to a new set of resources and material that can help you with your network application, future journey and beyond.
Have you missed this webinar? You can watch the recording from the sessionhere.
Among its core objectives, the EU cohesion policy has set as a first priority to create a more competitive and smarter Europe. But what does it mean to take the leap towards the digital transition? And is your city ready for it? Join our webinar on the 9 March from 10.00 to 11.30 CET to find out!
Take a trip down memory lane with us. Re-discover stories and reflections that we've captured over the last years. This article was first published in 2019 and, yet, is more relevant than ever, with digital transition at the heart of EU cohesion policy objectives and the URBACT Programme.
Digitalisation is omnipresent in today’s social and urban life and URBACT cities are seizing the opportunity. As Alison Partridge, Lead Expert of the TechRevolution 2.0 and the TechRevolution Transfer Networks, always advocates cities need to ‘adapt or die’. for many years: “cities of all sizes need to better understand the opportunities offered by digital and tech and jump on them to grow higher value jobs and start-ups for local people”. Indeed, at all levels of society and of governance, services and products are going digital: online availability, digital tools for access, compiling and using data to proceed to meta-analysis.
The transition to a society based on “virtual”, intangible, vectors, using computing techniques and algorithms – a digital transition - is growing in European cities, meaning more intrusions in our daily lives.
“The use of new technologies to communicate and access information is changing the way society works”
Beyond the digital divide issue, private data protection and free choice, this trend follows new consumption and production patterns, as well as interaction between people.
Taking advantage of digital transition’s potential is an asset for cities, not only for business development and job creation, but also for city governance and getting closer to citizens, thus developing more integrated governance approaches at city level. That is the way URBACT cities have approached their digital transition over the last 15 years – as a means of driving change in cities.This article, written by URBACT Expert Marcelline Bonneau, presents a few cases from URBACT cities and Urban Agenda Partnerships, which can inspire other cities.
Digital transition as a goal: transforming cities’ local economic development
Cities are taking advantage of digital transition as a goal in itself. Indeed, the digital sector has been and should be developed. Creating “smart cities” is now appearing in more and more cities’ strategy as a way to achieve competitive advantage. Focusing on local economic development, as a new way of addressing emerging societal issues such as environmental and social ones, requires strong leadership, commitment and investments.
For some URBACT Networks, digitalisation of cities means the development of incubators, hubs and other platforms to support the development of jobs and skills. Featuring a wealth of examples about the ways in which cities support tech and digital economy, TechPlace showcases URBACT Networks such as TechTown, GEN Y CITY and Interactive Cities. It shares content such as articles, videos, podcasts and presentations on the ways cities use social media, digital strategies, digital education, digital health, co-working environments, digital hubs etc.
Developing digital strategies is the starting point of the DigiPlace network, one of the 23 approved Action Planning Networks back in 2019. It seeks to support the creation of global vision and improve technical and engineering capacities by incorporating digital innovation, with both hard and soft infrastructures. Supporting digital growth and transformational economies is also the key focus of the TechRevolution 2.0 network. Transferring the experience of Barnsley (UK) and its Digital Media Centre, a business support programme which nurtures an 'ecosystem' thanks to knowledge-based jobs and businesses across all sectors and industries.
As for the skills needed to move towards more digital cities, URBACT has also contributed to the Digital Skills Map platform, as an outcome of the Urban Agenda Partnership on Jobs and Skills, presenting local know-how on digitalisation in vocational education and training.
Digital transition as a methodology: A governance focus
Digitalisation can, on the other hand, be seen as a methodology. The process, supporting societal and urban transition, has a strong impact on governance, and on how our everyday life is organised - as well as on the way we make the city work.
Although the use of technology can lead to personalisation of services, “strengthening the barrier between the people and the services which their taxes fund”, as pointed out by URBACT Expert Eddy Adams following URBACT city lab's contribution to the Leipzig Charter, it's key to use adequate language which does not alienate people. Indeed, administrations and citizens need to get to know each other and adopt a language that is understandable by both sides. When used correctly, digitalisation and new technologies can be harnessed to transform cities into platforms of open innovation and develop digital urbanism. The ESPON working paper on the “Digital innovation in urban environments: Solutions for sustainable and fluently working cities” backs the benefit for vertical and horizontal co-creation of cities.
Digital transition can be supported by specific tools to make governance more inclusive, participatory and more efficient. As identified by ESPON, larger cities and Northern European cities are more advanced than the rest of European cities.
Such a process, according to the Urban agenda Partnership on Digital Transition, can be supported by 4 frameworks: technological, organisational, institutional and by stakeholders (see figure). Indeed, what is of crucial importance to cities is not what technology is used but how it is used.
Nele Leosk, 2019, DIGITAL TRANSITION ABC
Creating a one-stop shop for citizens and ensuring the centralisation of citizens’ information is the core of the Card4All URBACT network transferring the experience Citizen Card System of Gijon (ES). The card enables using innovative services and technologies. Cities can thus gather information to improve their services and use it as part of a participative processes. This can be applied to promote social inclusion, local trade, urban mobility and sustainable living, creating a Smart City with Smart Citizens. Such a card can be used for access to citizens’ terminals (for public services), public transport, library, swimming pool, public toilets, car sharing, etc. The IoTxChange network also seeks to benefit from the Internet of Things (IoT) solutions to improve the quality of life in small and medium sized EU cities.
At the same time, participation and citizens’ engagement is also increasingly relying on digital tools. The participatory budget of Paris URBACT Good Practice is an online process which combines offline and online promotion. The city of Agen (FR) has started a new network, ActiveCitizen, placing citizens at the heart of local democracy in small and medium-sized cities, developing new interactive platforms such as Agen’s Tell My City.
Many other URBACT cities have developed digital solutions on a wider scale. For example, Helsinki (FI), within the REFILL network, shared its experiment with an online service, Flexi Spaces, allowing people to find and book spaces by the hour in the neighbourhood of Kalasatama. After all, it's safe to say URBACT brings a wealth of knowledge and practical cases into the European Urban Policy debate – helping develop and share new innovative solutions creating smart cities.
Are you interested in the topic of digital transition but don't know where to start?
Phase 2: Transfer Learning Period. Experiential Learning Stage. Transnational meetings: Antwerp, Suceava, Sassari and Clermont-Ferrand
Phase 1: Kick-off meeting: Jurmala and Transnational Conference: Gijón
Phase 2: Transfer Learning Period. Reflective Learning Stage.
Phase 2: Sharing Period. Contextual Support for Learning. Transnational Meeting: Jurmala. Exchange and Learning Seminar: Aveiro and Final Conference: Gijón
CARD4ALL is a Transfer network focused on the implementation of innovative services and technologies through a Citizen Card System. Cities can gather information to improve their services and use it for participative processes. It can be applied to promote social inclusion, local trade, urban mobility and sustainable living, thus creating a Smart City with Smart Citizens. The technology used allows the transferability and replication in different contexts.
TechRevolution, an URBACT Transfer Network, provides an opportunity for six cities from across the EU to get under the skin of an URBACT Good Practice developed and delivered in Barnsley UK which centres around two main pillars (below) as well as some spin-off activities. • Enterprising Barnsley - a successful business support programme; • The Digital Media Centre (DMC) - a landmark hub for creative and digital business in the town centre. It enables these cities to come together to study every element of the practice in a safe and honest space, to consider their own local contexts and strategic priorities and then to adapt different aspects of what Barnsley has done within their local setting. See the full Tech-Revolution Transferability Study here.
Working together to maximise the job creation potential of digital
Medium-sized post-industrial cities in Europe seek ways to grow & diversify their economies to compete with the pull of larger hubs. This is even more important in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Barnsley has been committed to growing higher value jobs, particularly within its tech and digital
Tropa Verde is a Transfer network to encourage environmentally responsible behaviour that empowers citizens to reuse and recycle. Combining web platform and low cost campaigns, it is considered as a "civic movement fully committed to sustainability and circular economy". Citizens get vouchers and exchange them for rewards from the City Council and local retailers. It connects places where disposing waste (green points, civic and social centres, etc.) with local businesses providing gifts or discounts.
The AS Fabrik Transfer Mechanism pilot seeks to share the experience of Bilbao in the AS FABRIK Urban Innovative Actions project with other European cities, which want to meet the ultimate approaches in the field of the smart specialisation in Industry 4.0 and digital economy. AS FABRIK was conceived to increase the competitiveness of the local KIBS sector and to prepare them to supply the digital transformation demands of the manufacturing sector. An strategic alliance based on knowledge and innovation that aims to improve the local ecosystems of cities, with city businesses, universities, local service providers and entrepreneurs hosted in a tailor-made innovative space.
Smart specialisation towards industrial digital transformation
