Networks and cities' news

"The Urban Industry 4.0 Talent Ecosystem: 7 Challenges"

"The Urban Industry 4.0 Talent Ecosystem: 7 Challenges" by Willem van Winden, URBACT Lead Expert

In many European cities, manufacturing industries are still important drivers of their economy. But the sector is in a process of transformation, under the influence of new technologies (robotisation, digitalization, new materials) and the urge to produce in a sustainable way. This transformation puts new demands on the skills and competences of people that work in the industry, but also on educational institutes in the city that educate the new talent flowing into the sector. How to create a local/urban talent ecosystem that is future proof? This article identifies seven key challenges that industrial cities face in this respect. It is based on in-depth interviews with companies, educational institutes, policymakers and experts in four industrial cities united in the AS-Transfer project: Bilbao, Bielsko-Biala, Tartu, and Timisoara.

RiConnect in 100 words

A brief overview on the RiConnect project: its vision, goals and partners - including a collection of content for broader information on each topic

Reflecting on the Resourceful Cities journey to date

Setting out on this journey over two years ago, we met (most of us) for the first time, in The Hague, in early October 2019. Little did we realise the luxury of that opportunity to meet face to face, to shake hands, embrace, to exchange ideas through post it notes passed freely from one to another, over conversation filled coffee breaks and cosy meals. Not only did we have this luxury once but our second meeting in Mechelen gave us the opportunity to cement strong bonds and trusting relationships that have helped to see us through the many unexpected bumps in the road of our journey ahead.

Our newsletter dedicated to World Bee Day and Education is here

Today is World Bee Day, the perfect date to showcase all the news we have to share with you. Our partner cities have used this opportunity to educate people about bees on the single most important day for pollinators and all people who strive to make the world we share better for both. This year's World Bee Day celebration is aimed at youth and what better way to honour the theme than with educational events for youth who will in turn teach us a thing or two. We are definitely following the motto of “Bee Engaged: Celebrating the diversity of bees and beekeeping systems” and hope that you will join us as well.

AS TRANSFER - What is going on?

What has AS TRANSFER been up to until today?

Focus on funding and implementation for EU cities - by Claudio Bordi

Ad-hoc expert Claudio Bordi explains the most suitable funds for RiConnect projects and how to orient the plans to get the funding, explaining the broad context of European funds and showing resources to find specific funding calls.