The approved 25 networks bring together some 180 partners from 31 European countries. Of the180 city partners, 42% are newcomers to URBACT, with some 84% of all partners coming from localities that range from very small to medium sized cities!
We are thrilled that Louth County Council will be involved in its first URBACT project, while Meath County Council and Sligo Business Improvement District (BID) return as project partners. See below for a brief description of the three projects involving Irish partners.
- Ageing Communities focuses on Digital Health for Active Ageing Communities. Led by Viseu Dão Lafões CIM of Portugal, Louth’s partners include Nevers (France), Heraklion Development Organisation (Greece), Alytus (Lithuania), Lillehammer (Norway), Cartagena (Spain) and Tysmenytsia (Ukraine).
- FOOD4ECONOMY focuses on strengthening local food systems for resilient economies and sustainable communities. Led by Satu Mare County IDA (Romania), Meath’s partners include Zagreb (Croatia), Saue (Estonia), Caen Normandie Métropole (France), Bergamo (Italy), Chisinau (Moldova) and Middelburg (Netherlands).
- UrbanOS focuses on Urban Operating Systems for Data-Driven Local Economies. Led by Ajdovščina RDA ROD (Slovenia), Sligo BID’s partners include Fleurus (Belgium), Naantali (Finland), Újfehértó (Hungary), Faenza (Italy), Pentagono Urbano Association (Portugal) and Jaraiz de la Vera (Spain).
Action Networks differ in approach to traditional URBACT networks, with a greater emphasis in moving beyond the production of plans and strategies and instead applying a greater focus on implementing actions which address local challenges, building upon already existing local strategies/policy frameworks.
The networks officially get their 30-month journey underway on the 1st of November, and we look forward to accompanying our Irish partners on their exciting URBACT journey through to the end of April 2029.
The Action Networks call, which ran from mid-March until mid-June, represented the final call and set of networks formed under the URBACT IV programming period.
With an URBACT programme V set to return in the coming years, it is never too early to begin thinking about how your locality could apply to future URBACT calls. You can reach out anytime to National URBACT Point Karl Murphy at kmurphy@emra.ie to discuss both this and how other URBACT resources (toolbox, knowledge hub, good practices), as well as how other currently open calls (such as the EUI’s City-to-City exchanges) can get you best prepared for the future!