Networks and cities' news

Tech and Digital Diversity ecosystems in EU Cities: How Eight European Communities Are Building Inclusive Tech Futures

Technology is changing our world—and even small cities are stepping up to make sure that change includes everyone. Across Europe, eight communities—Trikala and Psahna in Greece, Idrija in Slovenia, Arezzo in Italy, Bielsko-Biała in Poland, Larnaka in Cyprus, Amarante in Portugal, and Bucharest District 6 in Romania (the biggest one among all) — are leading the way in building diverse, open, and inclusive digital and tech ecosystems. This article details their achievements, challenges, and audacious plans to build a more equitable digital future for everybody.

Under the umbrella of the URBACT TechDiversity network, eight cities confront a key question: How can they facilitate inclusive, innovative, and resilient tech digital economies that serve all residents—not just a privileged few?
 

From Concept to Impact: Hands-On Approaches to Digital and Industrial Innovation

Digitisation and industrial innovation are profoundly transforming our cities, opening new avenues for economic and urban development. 

Hydro-Heritage Cities Journal no. 1

Seeding a new approach to local social cohesion across Europe’s cities

“You never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete.” So said the American philosopher and futurist Buckminster Fuller. He could have been talking about the city of Utrecht and their innovative social transformation project that has turned traditional models of migrant reception on their head.

Utrecht (NL) has shown an approach that can meet the needs of new arrivals from their first day in the local area at the same time as the needs of the local community already in place. In doing so, they have created positive relationships, overcome distrust and fear and provided an example of local social cohesion that can, and should, inspire other cities across Europe.

This is the starting point of Plan Einstein Academy, a two-year Innovation Transfer Network supported by URBACT that is exploring how to transfer Utrecht’s innovative ‘Plan Einstein’ model to five partner cities in different European countries: Coimbra (PT); Suceava (RO); Thessaloniki (EL); Warsaw (PL); and Zagreb (HR).

Seeding a new approach to local social cohesion across Europe’s cities

“You never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete.” So said the American philosopher and futurist Buckminster Fuller. He could have been talking about the city of Utrecht and their innovative social transformation project that has turned traditional models of migrant reception on their head.

Utrecht (NL) has shown an approach that can meet the needs of new arrivals from their first day in the local area at the same time as the needs of the local community already in place. In doing so, they have created positive relationships, overcome distrust and fear and provided an example of local social cohesion that can, and should, inspire other cities across Europe.

This is the starting point of Plan Einstein Academy, a two-year Innovation Transfer Network supported by URBACT that is exploring how to transfer Utrecht’s innovative ‘Plan Einstein’ model to five partner cities in different European countries: Coimbra (PT); Suceava (RO); Thessaloniki (EL); Warsaw (PL); and Zagreb (HR).

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