Networks and cities' news

Varna - Integrated Action Plan

The case study on Amersfoort (The Netherlands) is one of the concrete results of the URBACT workstream ‘Social innovation in cities’, after collection of data, a study visit, and interviews with local stakeholders. It explores the practice the city put in place to engage with citizens and optimise public services, actions implemented, achievements and challenges, success factors, and conditions for transfer to other cities. The first part of the case study summarises the key points of the practice, while the second part (analytical template) provides more details for those interested in transferring the practice to their local context.

Temporary Use Value Creation Plan

The Temporary Use Value Creation Plan is a tool, which helps cast a range of future possible developments in a temporary use project.

Ghent - Integrated Action Plan

Ghent, smart city of people

The city of Ghent  truly believes the future of Europe will be made in and by cities and creative citizens. So we are pleased we can play our international role within the Interactive Cities network and fully contribute to the URBACT program.

Debrecen - Integrated Action Plan

Two main driving forces helped the creation of the Integrated Action Plan of Debrecen within the Interactive Cities URBACT III project. On one hand, the Strategy for Developing Digital Literacy in Debrecen was set up in 2017 and identified 3 fields of digitalization that should be developed. Two of them is aiming to improve the digital presence of both businesses and public authorities and to give a boost to digital communication for all stakeholders. On the other hand, the Municipality delegated the tasks of developing SME sector to EDC Debrecen, which is a non-profit organization for urban and business development owned by the Municipality and the University of Debrecen. One field of this development is the communication in both offline and online forms.

Living labs for decarbonisation

The Municipality of Braga has established as one of its strategic objectives the promotion of the change in the life of the city, investing in the construction of a more sustainable, inclusive and innovative environment.

"5 Guidelines" - cycling promotion in Bielefeld in general

As a long-time member of the "Working Group for Cycling-Friendly Cities, Districts and Municipalities in North Rhine-Westphalia" (AGFS NRW), cycling promotion is playing an important role in all transport planning in Bielefeld. Nevertheless, there are potentials in cycling that have not yet been fully exploited: after all, almost 50% of all journeys by car are shorter than 5.0 km and therefore actually the ideal cycling distance. An increase in the share of cycle traffic in the total traffic volume, which currently stands at 18%, is thus feasible, but requires a consistent cooperation of planners and decision-makers.

As a basis for this, the city council decided in June 2016 on five guiding principles that were formulated because of the "Bicycle Police Audit" (BYPAD) by the transport policy relevant groups:

1. Increasing the share of cycling to 25% by 2025
2. Development of a bicycle traffic concept
3. Develop and strengthen infrastructure
4. Expand service / communication / public relations
5. Create work structures