Networks and cities' news

How Eindhoven unlocks the collaborative capacity of the city through social service delivery

It is clear why Dutch cities have a good reputation recently among urbanists. In the beginning of the year we heard that four Dutch cities, Tilburg, Utrecht, Groningen and Wageningen, from January, 2016 are giving some of their social assistance receivers an unconditional social security payment (i.e. a monthly income of the Government without an obligation to take paid employment or to be involved in community service). They examine whether these people will become more active than others with the current, strict regime. In May, urban planners appreciated the signature of the Pact of Amsterdam paving the way for an EU level urban agenda. Last but not least, the URBACT community is hopefully already checking on the internet why the URBACT Summer University 2016 is taking place in Rotterdam, in the city which received the Urbanism Award in 2015. To carry on with ground-breaking urban experiments from the Netherlands, this article is about the WeEindhoven social experimenting programme, which might have had less publicity, but it is definitely worth following the results of this pioneering initiative.  

Cities talking Digital

Have a listen to URBACT’s first ever podcast which explores what we mean when we talk about digital jobs in Europe’s cities and what cities from all URBACT networks – whatever their core theme - could and should be doing to maximise benefits from the Digital Economy.

Realising the opportunities of EU Procurement Directives

I have spent much of the last ten years undertaking work around public procurement and local economic development. The emphasis of that work has largely been around measuring the impact the significant amount spent procuring goods and services in the United Kingdom has in local economic, social and environmental terms; and also in shifting the behaviour of procurement teams in local municipalities so that they undertake procurement more progressively and innovatively.

What do European consumers want on their plate today?

A growing global movement recognizes that the current complexity of food systems based on economies of scale is causing economical, societal and environmental challenges to cities and rural areas. Simultaneously, consumer awareness of food quality, security and health is demanding alternative food systems. The good news is that not only do many farmers want to provide high quality products that are known to be healthy and safe, it is also better business for them. Closer links between rural areas and nearby cities are not only societally and environmentally beneficial, but also ensure regional economic development. Agri-Urban, a new URBACT project, will rethink agri-food production in small and medium-sized cities that have a relative specialization in this area, in order to increase transparency in the European food system. 

Why demand management matters to Europe’s cities. The best idea you’ve never heard of

Demand management is the best idea you’ve never heard of. It will become fundamental to the sustainability of our cities.  It is the conduit between social innovation in communities and transformative change in bureaucracies. It denotes a set of emerging practices that represent the best chance of controlling cost and improving outcomes in public services.

The CityMobilNet project

Interview with Mr Olaf Lewald, project coordinator of CityMobilNet, Lead partner City of Bielefeld and Mr Gregor Moss, elected representative of the city council of Bielefeld, Lead partner City of Bielefeld interviewed by Claus Köllinger, lead expert of CityMobilNet project