Networks and cities' news

Transfer Story: Salerno Italy

The Municipality took a strategic decision quite early on in the organisation of their activities to integrate a Blue Growth Entrepreneurship Award into an existing high-profile Business Plan Competition which is held annually in the city (the business plan competition, which is organised by the Industrial Union of Salerno, as part of the large annual festival of innovation and entrepreneurship is now in its 13^th year).

BluAct Final Event May 2021

A hybrid online-offline format event, with live connection and simultaneous venues in 7 port-cities!

France’s ÉcoQuartier label, an initiative to support communities for sustainable city planning

The concept of “écoquartier” - the term is a contraction of the two French words “quartier” and “écologique” (ecological neighbourhood) - was inspired by Northern European countries experiences of eco-districts.

By creating a Label, delivered in four stages and according to urban sustainable development criteria, the French State wanted to push the approach one step further. The approach was successful in France, now also opened to other neighbourhoods and cities throughout the world.

Eco-districts: historical background of the concept and first projects in Europe

Cities and digitalisation: “Adapt or die”

How can cities benefit from digitalisation?  With dramatic headlines about jobs being destroyed by digitalisation, and many policy makers resisting change, Alison Partridge argues that the 4th industrial revolution, and industry 4.0, are best seen as an opportunity, not a threat, for Europe's towns and cities.

First, some definitions…

For many this is a complex, unfamiliar and somewhat bewildering landscape. So here are a few explanations of key terms before delving deeper.

Social enterprise might just be the Robin Hood we need right now

By Alicia Clyde and Ann Hyde

The legend of Robin Hood is world-renowned and has been at the centre of many Hollywood films.  The romantic idea that he stole from the rich to give to the poor has remained a consistent part of his story.  However, history books have always struggled to pin the truth of this legend down to one man doing good for the poor. 

VIDEO: LIVE INTERACTIVE DEBATE: CONSERVATION THROUGH DEVELOPMENT

During the meeting celebrated last february in the city of Kortrijk, in the Crown Room of the Texture Museum, one session was also opened to other participants and live streaming through Facebook Live and included interactive Q&A.