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  • Retour sur l'Infoday URBACT France&Luxembourg 2024

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    Bannière ITN 24 - NUP webpage
    25/01/2024

    L’Infoday URBACT France&Luxembourg s’est tenu le 25 janvier 2024 en ligne. Vous trouverez ici le replay et le support diffusé en direct

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    Télécharger la présentation PowerPoint

     

    Plus d'information sur l'appel à réseaux de transfert d'innovation

     

    Tous les projets UIA proposés

     

    Contactez itn@urbact.eu

     

  • Innovation Transfer Networks: the search is on for project ideas

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    Partner Search Tool - Innovation Transfer Networks
    19/01/2024

    URBACT’s call for Innovation Transfer Networks is open, and with it, the Partner Search Tool is ready to help cities develop European partnerships.  

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    URBACT’s call for Innovation Transfer Networks is open, and with it, the Partner Search Tool is updated and ready to help cities develop European partnerships. 

    Running until 20 March 2024, this call for networks is slightly different from other URBACT calls: the pool of available project ideas is based on Urban Innovative Actions projects carried out between 2016 and  2023 and only those cities can lead the transfer network. This is a unique opportunity to adapt a newly tested innovation to your city. 

    There are currently over 20 topics to choose from, covering urban poverty, migration, housing, security, renewable energy, land and air quality, culture and heritage, demographic change and digital transition. 

    We’ve taken a closer look at the pool of ideas, to help you identify the ones that could interest your city the most.

     

    Energy

     

    Energy poverty is a priority topic in many European cities, particularly as energy prices spiked following Russia’s ongoing war of aggression in Ukraine. Getafe (ES) has developed a new, data-driven model to identify and prevent energy poverty, collaborating across departments to identify hidden poverty. Targeted actions can then be carried out at the level of the individual, building or neighbourhood. Getafe showed that the approach was effective in reducing energy vulnerability. Does this sound like a tool your city could use? 

    Building on the participatory approach to energy transition, Leidel (BE) has put a local energy community in place, to provide affordable, renewable, locally-produced and autonomously managed electricity for citizens. RE/SOURCED builds on the momentum for clean energy across Europe, in line with the Clean Energy for all Europeans package. Its results are highly relevant for other cities putting circularity and citizens and the centre of the energy transition.

     

    Air/soil quality

     

    Cities looking to make advances in the quality of the air or the soil should look at three innovative actions in particular. Baia Mare (RO) proposes a revolutionary approach for reclaiming heavy metal-polluted land using plants and returning the land to the community. An adaptable dynamic platform and toolkit can help you determine the best use for the land. Two Italian cities have developed citizen-centric and data-led models to improve air quality. Ferrara (IT) has set up low-cost sensors and mobile air quality stations to map high emission zones and transform them into urban green forests. Portici (IT) also developed a widespread monitoring system based on citizen science, combined with educational activities and events to promote behavioural change.

     

    Digital tools

     

    Digital tools have been put to use in cities to support policy and decision-making in different domains. Vienna (AT) has developed ICT solutions to set new standards in building applications and planning permissions. The tool can be adapted to other permit processes in cities – making bureaucracy more efficient, more transparent and more cost effective. Heerlen (NL) has created an innovative digital platform to enhance public space, foster community engagement and revitalise local areas. It crowdsources public maintenance tasks, which citizens can carry out in return for credit that can be used in local shops and bars. A digital approach was also taken by Ravenna (IT) for an urban regeneration process in one neighbourhood, Darsena. Combining collaborative data collection, the digital infrastructure supports decision-making, storytelling and promotion. It has shown increased engagement in Darsena’s evolution from an abandoned dockland to an attractive urban ecosystem. The network could focus on adapting both the technological and methodological processes to other cities. 

    Rennes (FR) has taken on the issue of e-government solutions directly, designing a portal for the use and re-use of data while guaranteeing privacy and public service interests. The Reusable Urban Data Interface is 100% open source and ready to scale up to cities seeking to harness local data. 

     

    Jobs & skills

     

    The emphasis on green and digital transitions means that the skill profiles of the workforce in a city must adapt and evolve to these transitions. Eindhoven (NL) faces a paradox that, despite high economic growth, there is a significant shortage of qualified personnel, particularly in low-carbon technology development. The Platform4Work redesigns the employment journey, developing a ‘skills passport’, restructuring educational programmes and bringing employers and jobseekers closer together. Aveiro (PT) positions itself as a territory of digital innovation, but has faced severe shortages of digital skills. The city set up the first Tech City Living Lab to attract and retain talent through STEAM education, training, technology and addressing local challenges. Cuenca (ES) uses its specific location within a forest region to build an innovative bio-economy sector, combining training, research, and the incubation and acceleration of forest-related businesses. The award-winning model can be transferred to other EU cities with a forest or other niche bio-economy sector. 

     

    Culture/heritage

     

    Cities must use all of the resources available to them to improve citizens’ quality of life, whether digital, physical or cultural. In Újbuda (HU), culture and digital platforms were combined to create a bottom-up creative cultural resource management tool to strengthen social cohesion. Alongside the digital sphere, a physical cultural institution was created, integrating local cultural and technological initiatives, bringing together the local community, public and private sectors. Cities can explore low-budget interventions as well as major investments. Chalandri (EL) focused on an ancient monument – in their case, the Hadrian Aqueduct – as a vehicle for urban regeneration and revitalising community life. Using a cross-sectoral approach, it co-creates local projects and cultural events with communities, valorising local history and improving care of water and natural resources. It can be adapted to other cities with different types of local heritage, to build trust and nurture communities. In Tilburg (NL), the city uses culture as an agent for social transformation. Developing a cultural ecosystem in an ethnically mixed and disadvantaged area helps bridge the gap between those in the margins, and the public services they interact with. More than 3 000 young people were reached through 150 projects, with positive effects on health, behaviour and public safety. 

     

    Social inclusion

     

    Many cities are taking innovative and participatory approaches to tackling long-standing issues of social exclusion. Seraing (BE) takes on isolation and community-building through an experimental project to revitalise public spaces in the town centre. An inclusive urban planning process and training of local residents reinvented the spaces, resulting in ongoing civic projects. A more tailored approach was tested in Landshut (DE) to overcome the vicious cycle of single parents unable to work due to lack of childcare. Focusing on healthcare professions, which require long and flexible work hours, the city developed a new form of flexible childcare. Single parents receive training in childcare to look after the children of healthcare workers, in an interconnected building. This represents a novel approach to tackling the shortage of skilled workers in some professions that disproportionately affect women. 

    Verona (IT) is tackling loneliness, brought about by changing demographics and an erosion of family networks. By developing a ‘loneliness index’ and activating community resources in a combined approach, they aim to identify and reduce symptoms of loneliness for increased wellbeing.  

    Brussels (BE) is taking on the affordable housing headache that many citizens face through a co-housing project, developed within the framework of a Community Land Trust. By separating the ownership of the land from the ownership of the housing built on it, speculation is removed, and focus is put on ensuring accessible housing for those often neglected: low-income families, older people, homeless people, and single mothers. 

    Utrecht (NL) is proposing to share its innovative approach to the reception and integration of newcomers in the city, particularly asylum seekers. By revising completely how newcomers are housed, integrated and trained, they create meaningful encounters beyond the labels of ‘refugee’ or ‘local’. The flexibility and focus on the local immediate surroundings of reception centres will enable any city that joins the network to develop their own version which connects their locals and newcomers.  

     

    Urban security

     

    Making urban spaces safer at night is an issue for many European cities. We want to look at two cities offering new approaches to community-based urban security. Piraeus (EL) has developed an holistic model, establishing local collaboration for crime prevention, an online platform to assess physical and cyber threats, and spatial interventions to secure and beautify vulnerable buildings. Turin (IT) focuses on a multi-disciplinary approach to manage public spaces and improve residents’ perception of safety at night. Actions to boost the territorial potential, involving local communities, made neighbourhoods more liveable in the evening. 

     

     

    Which one is for you?

     

    These cities are looking for partners to transfer these practices and concrete innovation outputs. You can use the partner search tool to get in touch with any of the cities to find out more and develop your network together. 

    The Get Involved page has all you need to apply for the URBACT Innovation Transfer Networks!


     

     

     

     

  • L’appel à réseaux de transfert d’innovation URBACT est lancé !

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    Bannière ITN 24 - NUP webpage
    10/01/2024

    Du 10 janvier au 20 mars 2024, les Collectivités locales sont invitées à candidater pour devenir partenaires de projets. Découvrez ici toutes les modalités sur ce nouvel appel visant à transférer des projets qui ont été financés dans le cadre des actions innovatrices urbaines (UIA).

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    L’appel à réseaux de transfert d’innovation

    URBACT a lancé un appel à réseaux de transfert d'innovation le 10 janvier 2024, une opportunité exceptionnelle pour les villes européennes de transférer et d'adapter à leurs contextes locaux un projet innovant réalisé dans le cadre des Actions Innovatrices Urbaines.

    Découvrez toutes les informations relatives à l'appel - les termes de référence, les villes chefs de file potentielles et les idées de projet à transférer, ainsi que les dates des sessions d'information au niveau européen et national sur urbact.eu/get-involved.

    En attendant, jetez un coup d'œil à l'infographie suivant pour en savoir plus sur les réseaux de transfert d'innovation et les possibilités qu'ils offrent !

    Une série de Webinaires explicatifs

    Le Secrétariat URBACT vous propose une série de webinaires explicatifs tout au long de la phase de candidature, du 10 janvier au 20 mars, pour tout savoir sur l'appel à candidatures pour les Réseaux de transfert d'innovation et poser vos questions !

            Ÿ  le 16 janvier de 10h00 à 11h00 CET : L'appel en bref et ses caractéristiques : Questions et réponses

            Ÿ   le 23 janvier de 10h00 à 11h00 CET : Comment construire un partenariat solide pour les réseaux de transfert d’innovation ?

            Ÿ  le 6 février de 10h00 à 11h00 CET : Échange et apprentissage au cours d’un séjour dans un réseau URBACT

            Ÿ  le 7 mars de 10h00 à 11h00 CET : Il est temps de candidater ! Appui technique et dépannage

            Ÿ  le 14 mars de 10h00 à 11h00 CET : Le dépannage final !

    Un Infoday en français dédié le 25 janvier prochain

    Pour entrer dans les détails de cet appel, une session d’information en ligne et en français est organisée le 25 janvier prochain.

    N’hésitez pas à vous inscrire sur ce lien pour connaître les modalités de cet appel et échanger sur les possibilités d’intégrer un réseau.

     

  • Infoday France&Luxembourg

    Bannière Infoday ITN 24

    Cette session en ligne sera consacrée à l'appel pour les réseaux ITN, pour lequel la période de candidature pour les réseaux de villes européennes s'étend du 10 janvier au 20 mars 2024. Ces réseaux visent à transférer des projets qui ont été financés dans le cadre des actions innovatrices urbaines (UIA).

     

    Au programme : 

    • 10h00 : URBACT, qu'est-ce que c'est ?
    • 10h15 : L'appel ITN, en quoi cela consiste ? Présentation de l'appel
    • 11h00 : Devenir partenaire d'un réseau URBACT
    • 11h15 : Retour d'expérience d'un partenaire français de réseau de transfert 
    • 11h30 : Temps de questions/réponses
    • 12h00 : Point d'actualité sur l'European urban initiative et l'appel à bonnes pratiques
    • 12h30 : Conclusion et fin.

    France
    • Urban Innovative Actions

    Dans le cadre du lancement de l'appel à réseaux de transfert d'innovation URBACT (ITN), une journée d'information en ligne est organisé par le Point de contact URBACT France et Luxembourg.

      National URBACT Point
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    • Se préparer pour les réseaux de transferts d'innovation (ITN)

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      10/01/2024

      Du 10 janvier au 20 mars 2024, URBACT lance l'appel Innovation Transfer Networks (ITN). L'objectif de ces réseaux est de transférer des projets financés dans le cadre des Actions Innovantes Urbaines ( UIA ) vers d'autres villes de l'Union européenne, d'Albanie, de Bosnie-Herzégovine, du Monténégro, de Macédoine du Nord et de Serbie.

       

      Cet article a été traduit du site URBACT . L'original peut être consulté ici : https://urbact.eu/whats-new/stories/get-ready-innovation-transfer-networks

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      Qu’est-ce que les villes y gagnent ?

      Grâce à cet appel, les villes ayant reçu un financement pour développer une Action Urbaine Innovante (UIA) de 2016 à 2023 sont invitées à agir en tant que Lead Partners (LP) et à transférer leur expérience, leurs connaissances techniques et leurs conseils à d'autres villes intéressées par la mise en œuvre d'un projet similaire. en cours. Grâce à la méthodologie de transfert URBACT - Comprendre, Adapter et Réutiliser -, les partenaires de transfert du projet généreront une compréhension plus approfondie de toutes les dimensions de la pratique originale de l'UIA. À terme, les villes qui participent à chacun de ces réseaux amélioreront leur capacité à concevoir des solutions innovantes de manière intégrée et participative, en étant capables d'identifier les fonds nécessaires à leur mise en œuvre.

      Pour en savoir un peu plus, vous pouvez écouter les experts Eddy Adams et Matthew Baqueria-Jackson parler de la méthode Comprendre, Adapter, Réutiliser dans la vidéo suivante :

       

      Sur une période de deux ans et grâce à un processus organisé d'échange et d'apprentissage entre pairs, les partenaires du projet travailleront ensemble pour élaborer un plan d'investissement sur mesure pour la mise en œuvre du projet d'innovation. Cela se fera avec le soutien d'experts URBACT et sera lié dans chaque ville à un groupe local URBACT composé d'agents clés locaux qui rassemblent différents profils internes et externes à l'administration locale.

      Le graphique suivant résume les actions que les villes participantes peuvent attendre de ces réseaux :

       

      A quoi s'attendre

      Tester le transfert d’innovation

      Répliquer l’innovation n’est jamais simple, mais entre 2021 et 2022, cinq réseaux pilotes ont été mis en service pour tester la méthode de transfert d’innovation conçue par URBACT. Vingt villes au total ont participé à ces cinq réseaux, chacune dirigée par une ville ayant lancé un projet UIA.

      L'évaluation finale du projet pilote a démontré le succès de cette méthode de transfert et a mis en lumière certains points importants à considérer :

       

      • Décomposer le projet UIA original

      Un projet transférable est un projet qui peut être facilement modularisé. Les projets UIA sont des interventions stratégiques vastes et complexes conçues pour un territoire spécifique. Il est rare que toutes les composantes du projet puissent être transférées, il est donc généralement nécessaire de le décomposer en ses parties fondamentales. Dans la plupart des réseaux pilotes, les partenaires disposaient d'une liste prédéfinie de composants, leur permettant de sélectionner ceux qui fonctionneraient le mieux dans différents contextes locaux. Une analyse des avantages et des inconvénients, préparée par l'expert du réseau, a permis d'orienter ces choix.

      Exemple pratique : Rotterdam (Pays-Bas) a pu adapter un plan d'investissement développé par Birmingham (Royaume-Uni) via le réseau USE-IT . À cette fin, Rotterdam a adapté les outils et méthodes du plan d'investissement de Birmingham à sa réalité locale pour soutenir le développement d'un centre de recrutement pour les coopératives de travail de quartier. La participation à ce réseau a eu un impact profond sur le travail associatif à Rotterdam, avec une amélioration des relations entre le conseil municipal, l'agence Voor Goed qui promeut l'entrepreneuriat social et le Fonds d'impact social de Rotterdam.

      Cependant, la modulation comporte certains risques. Il peut être difficile pour les partenaires de comprendre pleinement chaque composante et de rejeter un ou plusieurs modules potentiellement impactants. Pour atténuer ce problème, la plupart des réseaux offraient l'option de modules, mais en incluaient un que tous les partenaires accepteraient de transférer.

      • Reconstruire le projet

      L’importance de fragmenter les grands projets d’innovation stratégique a déjà été soulignée. Nous devons le considérer comme un processus d’ingénierie dans lequel une machine est démontée pour mieux comprendre le fonctionnement de tous ses composants, à condition de se rappeler où tout va lorsqu’il est remonté.

      Cette approche est également utile lorsque les partenaires de transfert ne disposent pas d’un financement à grande échelle. Dans ce cas, ils peuvent choisir les articles qu’ils sont sûrs de pouvoir financer. Cependant, le risque potentiel que les partenaires choisissent les éléments les plus simples ou les moins chers mais potentiellement les moins innovants doit être pris en compte.

       Étapes sur la route du transfert

      La méthode de transfert URBACT est composée de différentes étapes qui préparent le chemin vers le transfert.

      La première étape importante est l’étude de transférabilité. Il est composé d'informations, de données et de chiffres sur le sujet abordé par le projet UIA à transférer et qui sont compilés après les visites du réseau dans chaque ville et les conversations avec l'administration municipale, les responsables politiques et d'autres agents concernés extérieurs à l'administration municipale. Toutes les données collectées et analysées constituent une base de référence pour chaque ville, mais indiquent également le potentiel de transfert de chacune d'elles, avec des forces et des faiblesses sur lesquelles un travail plus approfondi doit être mené. Cette étude de transférabilité devient la référence pour la marche à suivre en termes d'activités de mise en réseau et de points d'apprentissage avant le transfert effectif.

      D'autres étapes marquantes sont les activités de formation organisées par le Secrétariat URBACT, la formation à l'utilisation d'outils ou encore les sessions et événements thématiques, comme le URBACT City Festival, qui est une source d'inspiration pour les villes. 

      Enfin, le principal résultat tangible de chaque partenaire du projet est un plan d'investissement qui comprend toutes les étapes nécessaires à suivre pour la mise en œuvre de la pratique UIA (partiellement ou totalement).

      Et en terme de budget ?

      Le transfert de solutions urbaines innovantes est rarement un processus de copier-coller. Pour que la transformation se concrétise, un certain degré d’adaptation et de réutilisation est nécessaire. Une telle réutilisation nécessite des ressources : des personnes, des plans et surtout des ressources financières. En ce sens et comme nouveauté dans les prochains appels, les villes disposeront d'un petit budget pour tester les actions avant de les inclure dans leur plan d'investissement.

      À la fin des cinq réseaux pilotes réalisés, les partenaires participants ont été interrogés et plus des trois quarts ont déclaré qu'ils transféreraient au moins 50 % du concept d'innovation original de l'UIA. L'enquête a également montré que 15 % des partenaires avaient déjà obtenu un financement pour ce projet, tandis que près de la moitié étaient convaincus que leurs projets de transfert seraient financés une fois leurs projets pilotes terminés.

       Où faut-il s'inscrire ?

      Si cet article vous a ouvert l’appétit, vous pourriez être intéressé de savoir comment votre ville peut s’impliquer.

      Si vous faites partie d'une ville intéressée à devenir partenaire de transfert, vous pouvez vous connecter ici à partir du 10 janvier et trouver les ressources nécessaires pour postuler avant le 20 mars 2024. 

      Et n'oubliez pas de vous inscrire à la newsletter URBACT et de nous suivre sur @URBACT pour recevoir des mises à jour sur cet appel.

      Nous espérons vous accueillir bientôt dans la communauté URBACT,

    • TNM Skofja Loka of the Breaking isolation network met on December 13 and 14, 2023

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      26/12/2023

      The partners of the Breaking isolation network met on December 13 and 14, 2023 for their second TNM in Skofja Loka in Solvenia in order to present the Baseline Study and the Communication Plan but also to prepare the work to be carried out at the local level with the ULGs.

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    • First TNM of the Breaking Isolation network in Agen

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      13/09/2023

      First TNM of the Breaking Isolation network in Agen (Lead Partner) on September 13 and 14, 2023 to launch the project, start getting to know each other within the network and prepare for the Study Visits with the partners and the Lead Expert. 

      https://youtu.be/3X8iXVt-zIg 

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    • Orna Rosenfeld

      The exchange of city practices and knowledge is fundamental to advancing sustainable urban development and inclusion in Europe. Strengthening city-to-city connections through networks is vital to increasing Europe's social and economic resilience and strengthening our cities.

      I believe I can provide vital support for these exchange and knowledge-creation processes.  I bring 25 years of professional experience in housing, inclusion, urban governance, just transition and strategic urban planning gained in public and private sectors in over 30 cities in France, Serbia, Spain, the UK and Hungary, in support of 56 countries at the UN and 27 EU member states (EU Commission). I bring extensive experience in urban development practice, including action planning, research policy and foresight, and evaluation and impact assessment at the project, city, regional, national and international levels, as well as demonstrated success in advancing learning and promoting improved policy for EU institutions (eg. EC, EIB), EU programmes (eg. Urban Agenda for the EU, European Urban Initiative, Urban Innovative Actions.). As an executive-level university lecturer in France and the UK I bring practical tools and methods for integrated and participatory approaches and translating ambitions and strategies into action.

      Most recently, I have been appointed a team leader of the New European Bauhaus Investment Guidelines expert team operationalising the NEB values for cities. Since 2016, I have been supporting the EU Urban Agenda as an expert for the establishment of the Cities of Equalities Partnership, advising the coordinators of the Partnership on Housing, and leading the assessment of the 14 EU Urban Agenda Partnerships contribution to the implementation of the UN New Urban Agenda and SDGs in Europe. I have also served as the expert for the Urban Innovative Actions and the European Urban Initiative, among other European and international initiatives focused on cities and concrete urban projects.  

      Dr Orna Rosenfeld
      Available for Lead Expert role and Ad-hoc expertise missions
      orna@ornarosenfeld.com

      Expert can perform the Lead expert role and Ad hoc expertise missions at network and programme level in relation to:

       

      1. The design and delivery of (transnational) exchange and learning activities

       

      2. Thematic expertise:
      [Equality-Diversity-Inclusion, Housing, Participative governance, Strategic urban planning]

       

      3. Methods and tools for integrated and participatory approaches:
      > Integrated and participatory design of strategies
      > Sustaining stakeholder engagement and translating strategies into actions

    • URBACT takes stock of 2023

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      Viladecans EU City Lab - site visit
      11/12/2023

      For URBACT, this has been a year of new beginnings with new networks, people, partnerships and landmark events!  

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      Site visit during the EU City Lab in Viladecans (ES).
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      Before shifting focus to a new year and new priorities, URBACT looks back on the touchstones and flashpoints that have taken the programme to new thematic and geographic heights. You will also find some hints about what’s in store for 2024.

       

      1. URBACT approves 1st round of Action Planning Networks

       

      A total of 254 project partners have joined the URBACT IV Programme, following the approval of 30 Action Planning Networks by the programme’s Monitoring Committee. The new beneficiaries primarily represent small and medium-sized cities across 28 European countries. From the technical to the practical, the holistic to the segmented: these project partners will develop Integrated Action Plans to tackle common local challenges.  

      Get a glimpse of the 30 networks whose topics range from sustainable mobility plans for urban and rural areas, place-based climate action and digital inclusion, to industrial renewal, migrant support, gender equality, green growth and public procurement.

       

      2. URBACT University welcomes the class of 2023

       

      From 28-30 August, the URBACT University was held in Malmö (SE). The 2023 edition marked the first in-person gathering of 430 partners from the recently approved Action Planning Networks.  

      Following in the footsteps of previous editions, this year’s landmark capacity-building event provided participants with tools and guidance on how to better define their local challenges and vision for change with the help of civil society. On day 1, participants got familiar with tools like the Problem Tree and the Newspaper of Tomorrow, followed by stakeholder mapping and engagement on day 2, and a new tool (the Action Planning Canvas) on day 3

      Get the main takeaways and watch the video for more highlights, including a bike tour of Malmö’s sustainable urban development initiatives! 

      The URBACT University 2023 was one of a kind, but not the first of its kind. Looking ahead to 2024, national campus events will take place for network beneficiaries. 

      URBACT university days 3rd day

       

      3. URBACT plugs in to the 1st EU City Lab

       

      From 23-24 November, the first EU City Lab on Energy Transition was held in Viladecans (ES). This thematic event, co-organised by URBACT and the European Urban Initiative (EUI), is part of a series of labs aiming to bring together stakeholders from local, national and EU levels to increase their knowledge on good practices related to energy, food and other related urban challenges. 

      This event gathered energy specialists and representatives  from European cities. The packed two-day agenda featured presentations from Viladecans’ Deputy Mayor Jordi Mazon, representatives from URBACT, the EUI, the European Energy Research Alliance and valuable insights on local learning practices, energy communities and governance. The walking tours were a highlight of the event programme, featuring site visits to the Vilawatt energy company, municipal buildings, the municipal market and Enxaneta School. 

      Vilawatt

       

      How will the EU City Labs help cities face pressing societal and environmental challenges? Read the article and take note of upcoming topics. Starting in March 2024 in Mouans-Sartoux (FR), the next EU City Lab will cover cities’ role in changing behaviours when it comes to food production and consumption. More topics are still to come! 

       

      4. URBACT National Points put words into action 

       

      The URBACT Method is all about providing cities with the tools and support to address local challenges. Yet, it’s not a surprise that language can present a barrier to these types of cross-border exchanges.  

      Over the last year, 25 National URBACT Points (NUPs) have sprung into action supporting local partners in European cities and, most recently, in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia under the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA).  

      This year, most of the National URBACT Points were appointed to also act as Urban Contact Points for the European Urban Initiative, providing a common line of information for both entities in their respective countries.   

      Find your NUP on the URBACT website or search for ‘@URBACT_country abbreviation’ on social media. 

       

      5. The URBACT Secretariat welcomes new faces 

       

      This year, as every year, the URBACT team is here to support cities. Now with 16 staff members, the Secretariat is working at full speed, and the team is still growing! Find a familiar or a fresh face here.  

      Interested in driving change for better cities? Check out the latest opportunities here to join the URBACT team. 

      URBACT Secretariat group picture during the URBACT University Days in Malmö (Sweden)

       

       

      The future is calling…for more URBACT networks! 

       

      Lots more activities to come, the first being the URBACT call for Innovation Transfer Networks (ITNs) opening on 10 January 2024. Through these networks, cities previously funded under the Urban Innovative Actions initiative will be sharing their innovative projects with other cities across the EU as well as in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia.  

      Interested in transferring an innovative project in your city? Get a taste of what to expect and go to urbact.eu/get-involved on 10 January to learn even more. Last but not least, save the date for the first online info session on 16 January

      ITN call 2023

       

       


       

    • Falling in love with downtown: the URBACT Cities@Heart network is here!

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      As a part of the URBACT IV European Programme, ten European urban areas come together to form Cities@Heart, a network dedicated to sharing best practices and innovations for improving city centre management.

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      Osijek, Croatia

      Network
      From urbact
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      Having a chat with your neighbourhood baker, running into an old friend, finding all you need in one place: these are just some of the reasons why we feel so attached to our city centres. However, today in the 21st century, city centres are facing more than just a little competition. From the rise of big-box stores and franchises to the omnipresence of online commerce, downtown areas have lost some of their edge. A result of urban sprawl and rising property values, the spatial fragmentation of our cities further strains the resilience of the high street. Amid all these challenges, city centres are well worth understanding, defending and improving. That’s where the URBACT Cities@Heart Action Planning network comes in.

      A programme supported by ERDF funds from the European Union, URBACT promotes sustainable urban development in Europe’s cities, both big and small. This year marks the beginning of URBACT IV, the fourth iteration of the programme with the launch of 30 Action Planning Networks throughout Europe and IPA countries. Harnessing an understanding of governance and recognizing the transverse coordination between the public, private and civic sectors as a driver for change, Cities@Heart partners will work together with a data-driven approach to plan, monitor and evaluate the implemented policies in the urban core. For the next 2.5 years, Cities@Heart will mobilise ten European urban areas. Network partners will work together to understand the way city centres function and create new monitoring tools to be used in city centre improvement initiatives.


      The Greater Paris Metropolis (Métropole du Grand Paris, France) coordinates the network in the role of Lead Partner. With a strong track record in downtown revitalisation policy, The Greater Paris Metropolis is a public entity representing 131 cities in the French capital region including the city of Paris. Endowed with extensive experience in local economy, architecture and urban planning, Barcelona-based Mar Santamaria Varas will assist the network as Lead Expert.

      The ten network partners include:

          The Greater Paris Metropolis, France (Lead Partner)
          The City of Cesena, Italy
          The City of Granada, Spain  
          The City of Osijek, Croatia
          Amfiktyonies, a business development organisation representing the City of Lamia, Greece
          The City of Celje, Slovenia
          The City of Fleurus, Belgium
          The City of Sligo, Ireland
          The Krakow Metropolis Association, Poland
          The Quadrilátero Urbano Association, Portugal

      Celje, Slovenia

      Each partner in the network is facing their own challenges: loss of inhabitants to the peripheries or the metropolitan areas, underdeveloped local commerce networks, conflicts generated by the intensive use of public space, the transition to walkable and carless environments, gentrification and over-tourism, gender equality and inclusion... Yet, all partners can agree on one thing: city centres are unique places and not just because they hold a certain affective charm: they truly are the lifeforce of our urban societies. Keeping the heart of downtown healthy is key to ensuring the vibrancy of local economies and the well-being of inhabitants.

      During the network’s lifespan, project partners will have the opportunity to travel throughout the European Union to see first-hand examples of city solutions driving change for better cities as they take part in transnational meetings hosted by the different project partners. To kick things off, the URBACT Secretariat hosted Summer University in Malmö, Sweden this past 28-30 August. Here, project partners met for the first time to discuss the framework of their networks, building capacity and learning more about the URBACT methodology for better cities. 

      Over the course of the autumn months, Lead Expert Mar Santamaria-Varas has travelled with the Greater Paris Metropolis to visit the ten project partners spread out across the European Union. From Poland to Greece, from Croatia to Portugal, the recent mobilities have provided a wealth of insight for this network of urban areas. The first transnational meeting of the network is planned for 6-7 December in Sligo, Ireland. After completing the Baseline Study Visit with Project Partners, the findings will allow the network to go from knowledge to action, laying out the roadmap for the next two years.

      With activities well underway, Cities@Heart is off to an exciting start. Check in regularly with the LinkedIn Page and the URBACT network webpage to stay up to date on project mobilities and findings!