Networks and cities' news

Bridging Research, Innovation and Inclusion: The Archimedes Center of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens

Across Europe, universities are increasingly called upon to play a more active role in shaping inclusive local innovation ecosystems. Beyond education and research, they are expected to connect knowledge with society, support entrepreneurship, and open pathways for diverse talents to participate in digital and technological innovation.

At the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA), the Archimedes Center responds to this challenge by acting as a bridge between academic research, technology transfer and entrepreneurship with inclusion embedded as a core principle rather than an add-on.

Youth Makerspace Larnaka: Empowering Young Creators through Technology and Innovation

In the coastal city of Larnaka, Cyprus, innovation has found a home that truly belongs to young people. The Youth Makerspace Larnaka, established by the Cyprus Youth Organization, is much more than a modern laboratory — it is a living example of how access to technology can inspire creativity, entrepreneurship, and social inclusion.

Since its launch in 2018, the Makerspace has become a creative hub for learning, experimentation, and innovation, empowering young people to shape their own future through technology. Equipped with 3D printers, laser cutters, robotics kits, and virtual reality tools, it gives everyone, from students and hobbyists to young entrepreneurs, the chance to turn their ideas into reality.
 

TechDiversity APN Project × the SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals): Diversity as an Urban Development Tool …

Intro 

TechDiversity was an URBACT network of eight partners representing small and medium-sized European cities, that aim to boost and facilitate diverse local communities that are not active in Tech & Digital sector, facing specific challenges in terms of diversity, gender equality and inclusion. Furthermore, the partner cities mainly focused on an identified pressing aspect and supported at least one diverse local group, through the integrated action plans developed. 

TechDiversity core policy issue was the lack of diverse communities looking to  grow  knowledge-based  digital and tech ecosystems …

TechDiversity was built on a simple but powerful idea: if our tech & digital ecosystems aren’t inclusive by design, they won’t be effective by design. Diversity and inclusion (D&I) are not add-ons; they are developments tools that let cities educate, innovate, and govern in ways that leave no one behind. That approach unlocks measurable progress across the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) - especially 4, 5, 8, 9, 10, 11, 16, and 17 - and it’s already shaping how TechDiversity partner cities design policies, run small scale actions, and scale what really works.

Guiding Youth Towards Inclusive Innovation: The Role of InformaGiovani Arezzo

In Arezzo, a city in the heart of Tuscany, supporting young people means much more than providing information. It means building bridges between youth aspirations and real opportunities in education, work, creativity, and entrepreneurship. Since its creation in 1993, InformaGiovani Arezzo, the Municipal Youth Services Centre and Youth Business Hub, has grown into a well-recognised reference point for inclusion and empowerment — and today, it stands out as a case example in the URBACT TechDiversity network.

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?
 

Empowering Women and Young Innovators in Bielsko-Biała through TechDiversity

As part of the TechDiversity network, we spoke with Patrycja Węgrzyn, Senior International Project Specialist at the Regional Development Agency (ARRSA) of Bielsko-Biała, Poland to learn how her team is fostering a more inclusive and innovative tech ecosystem. The conversation highlighted the development of the "HerStory in IT" initiative, the role of FabLab, and how local collaboration is shaping the city’s digital future.