Networks and cities' news

Summary of Learning - Roeselare

In mid-September, Bo and Gino defied the English weather and roads to meet, for the first time, with the partners of this URBACT Transfer Network. We got to know each other but also learned more about the “Good Practice” of Barnsley. Barnsley worked in collaboration with different stakeholders on the local economy of the future. On basis of their experiences of successes, methods and challenges during the project, Roeselare  made our own transfer plan including a provisional schedule and goals for the coming 18 months. In other words, Roeselare left Barnsley after three days full of inspiration for Roeselare. The knowledge gathered during the kick-off meeting triggered a cooperation with Art Economy where 20 colleagues of the city interacted with artists to enhance out-of-box approaches to innovation and technology and how to improve the ecosystem.

[[{"fid":"48056","view_mode":"default","fields":{"format":"default","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":false,"field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]":false,"field_author[und][0][value]":""},"link_text":null,"type":"media","field_deltas":{"1":{"format":"default","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":false,"field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]":false,"field_author[und][0][value]":""}},"attributes":{"height":248,"width":331,"class":"media-element file-default","data-delta":"1"}}]]

Barnsley's Fierce Love Holds You Forever in it's Heart

These are the words, lit up in neon that welcome you when you walk into Barnsley’s new public space in the town centre. 

Entrepreneurship Ecosystems – a few pieces do not a jigsaw make….

Over the years I’ve worked with URBACT networks, I have written - and read - various articles on the key success factors of an entrepreneurial ecosystem, most recently co-authoring Ten Top Tips with Ceri Batchelder as part of the AS Transfer network. As I travelled to Roeselare, Belgium in March 2022 for TechRevolution 2.0.’s Transnational Event, I found myself wondering what I would learn that would add value to work already undertaken.

Fast forward a few days and once again I was in awe of our partners who - against a backdrop of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the ensuing humanitarian crisis, which meant that two partners were not even able to travel to Belgium - once again embraced everything we threw at them to both deepen their understanding of entrepreneurial economies and build their ‘ecosystems in a box’ out of lego, pipe cleaners and glue.

SDG Story: Gävle

Gävle and the other 18 cities (from 19 countries) of the EU URBACT pilot network ”Global Goals in Cities” (GG4C) are already one year into the 20 months project on localising the SDGs.
 

#SOFIA4CSR - Foresting is investing for a better city

Sofia, CITIES4CSR project partner, is the Capital of Bulgaria and the largest political, administrative, cultural and educational centre in the country. Featuring strong agglomeration economics and innovative business development, the City of Sofia’s economy accounts for over 42 % of national GDP and is a home of more than 1.3 million inhabitants, which is almost 20% of total population of Bulgaria. Like most large cities, Sofia also faces challenges related to the rapid development of the city and the need for this to happen sustainably. The sustainable development of the city is an important, but also a large-scale task for local authorities and that is why the involvement of all stakeholders is key to success.

Space for discussions in Frankfurt meeting

As the host city Frankfurt welcomed all APN partners for the third Transnational Network Meeting this year, 29 – 30 of March. A network meeting excellent moderated by Mary Dellenbaugh-Losse which gave important space for sharing experiences as well as internal discussions for the final IAP Review.