Networks and cities' news

REMOTE-IT Podcast: How cities create Integrated Action Plans (IAPs)

How Cities Create Integrated Action Plans – Lessons from the Remote-IT Podcast

In the latest episode of the Remote-IT Podcast, titled "How Cities Create Integrated Action Plans (IAPs)", host Mark Thomas, editor of The Dubrovnik Times, leads a conversation with URBACT experts and ULG coordinators reflect on their experiences of designing these strategic documents and what makes them truly integrated.

Our guests in this episode are URBACT Lead Experts Alisa Aliti Vlašić (Remote-IT) and Bela Kezy (C4TALENT), joined by ULG Coordinators from the Remote-IT project — Kerttu Ahuna and Markos Kourgiantakis.

For cities unfamiliar with URBACT or the concept of an IAP, this episode offers a valuable behind-the-scenes look into what it means to build a local plan that is collaborative, actionable, and future-proof. An Integrated Action Plan (IAP) is not just another policy document. It is a structured, participatory roadmap that brings together stakeholders across sectors to co-create realistic and relevant local solutions — guided by the URBACT methodology and toolbox.

“An IAP is not only about having a plan. It's about how you create it.”

Remote-IT Quarterly Report 4&5

REMOTE-IT Online Forum: Gender equality, digital nomads and remote workers

Remote but not removed: Embedding gender equality in the future of work

Across the EU, at least in part due to the COVID-19  pandemic, people have changed the way they work. Remote and hybrid working, once seen as quite niche, has exploded, and many cities are also racing to attract a new generation of mobile professionals: digital nomads. However, it is not clear if this new future of work will be equally accessible to everyone. Is there a risk that - without intentional action - the flexibility and freedom that remote work promises could easily replicate, or even worsen, longstanding gender inequalities. As EU cities shape their strategies to welcome and retain remote workers and digital nomads, embedding gender equality from the outset will be key to creating inclusive and resilient urban futures.

This article considers some of these questions. It builds upon the extensive work on gender equal cities which URBACT has pioneered and comes from an Online Forum on the same topic, organised by the Action Planning Network - Remote-IT. 

Unlocking the potential of remote work: insights from the Remote-IT network

The global workforce is undergoing a profound transformation, with remote work and digital nomadism reshaping economies, urban planning, and governance. For cities, this shift presents both opportunities and challenges: How can urban areas attract and retain skilled remote workers? How can public administrations integrate remote and hybrid work models while maintaining efficiency?

The Remote-IT Network, composed of eight European cities—Dubrovnik, Brindisi, Tartu, Murcia, Heraklion, Bucharest District 6, Câmara de Lobos, and Tirana—explores strategies to make cities more adaptable to remote work. Through transnational meetings, testing action initiatives, and discussions in forums and podcasts, the network has identified key insights and recommendations for cities aiming to become leaders in the future of work.

Engaging stakeholders for success: Building effective URBACT Local Groups

REMOTE-IT Online Forum: Beyond Lifestyle - Digital Transformation, Nomads, and Remote Workers

On October 30, 2024, URBACT Remote-IT Network organized its second Online Forum, focusing on the theme of digitalization. This event delved into the broader implications of digital transformation—how it affects individuals, the advantages and drawbacks of living in the digital age, and how digitalization can be leveraged to improve both personal and professional environments.

The event began with introductory remarks from the organizers, specifically Alisa Aliti Vlašić, the lead expert of the Remote-IT project, and Nataša Mirić, representative of the project’s lead partner, the Dubrovnik Development Agency (DURA). The forum was moderated by Alison Partridge, an ad hoc expert for Remote-IT, whose expertise encompasses technology, inclusive enterprise, entrepreneurship, and economic development in both the UK and European cities. Since 2009, Alison has served as Lead Expert for five different URBACT Action Planning and Transfer Networks, including TechTown and TechRevolution, both led by Barnsley. She is also one of the founding members of the TechPlace community and has led capacity-building programs in digital transitions.

The first part of the forum introduced the speakers: Haydee Sheombar, a researcher at the Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University, and Mark-Emil Talivere, an Innovation Expert from the City of Tallinn.