Networks and cities' news

Catch up on the latest updates from cities working together in URBACT Networks. The articles and news that are showcased below are published directly by URBACT’s beneficiaries and do not necessarily reflect the programme’s position.

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    Transforming Tomorrow: Nykarleby's Digital Journey with Åbo Akademi University

     

    Embarking on the Metacity journey together with the city of Nykarleby, Åbo Akademi University has identified a set of markers that describe the specific context of the future prospects of a small town in a fairly remote area. The prospect of a metaverse of virtual solutions and services sets the stage for rethinking the current state of public services and processes.

     

    The recently adopted new city strategy, Nykarleby 2040, is guided by the slogan “Dream big in a small town” as an overarching aim. These big dreams are life-sized rather than utopian. The task ahead, as reflected by the coming Metacity integrated action plan, is to identify and map the paths toward that aim. The new virtual world may seem abstract, and our goal is to make it concrete and adapt the tools to our needs rather than the other way around. Without implementation plans for the launch of activities, an overarching strategy may become counterproductive.

    Sofia Alberto

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  • A person wearing Vr glasses, standing on a wood board in front of a screen

    I’ve been to Härnosänd and seen the future of urban planning – through a VR Headset. And it will soon be coming your way.

    The METACITY Action Planning Network has gotten 10 cities thinking about the future of urban planning and how can new digital technologies, such as the metaverse or Artificial Intelligence (AI), contribute to shape it. As the Lead Expert of the network, I have travelled to one of the Partner Cities – Härnosänd in Sweden - and discovered that virtual reality can be both magnificent and scary.

    Eurico Neves

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