Networks and cities' news

Digital nomads and sustainable tourism: how can remote work support more balanced, year-round tourism

This entry is part of the Remote-IT Playbook series, developed within the URBACT Remote-IT Action Planning Network (Entry 15 of 22).

REMOTE-IT Online Forum: Gender equality, digital nomads and remote workers

This entry is part of the Remote-IT Playbook series, developed within the URBACT Remote-IT Action Planning Network (Entry 14 of 22).

Remote but not removed: Embedding gender equality in the future of work

Across the EU, at least in part due to the COVID-19  pandemic, people have changed the way they work. Remote and hybrid working, once seen as quite niche, has exploded, and many cities are also racing to attract a new generation of mobile professionals: digital nomads. However, it is not clear if this new future of work will be equally accessible to everyone. Is there a risk that - without intentional action - the flexibility and freedom that remote work promises could easily replicate, or even worsen, longstanding gender inequalities. As EU cities shape their strategies to welcome and retain remote workers and digital nomads, embedding gender equality from the outset will be key to creating inclusive and resilient urban futures.

This article considers some of these questions. It builds upon the extensive work on gender equal cities which URBACT has pioneered and comes from an Online Forum on the same topic, organised by the Action Planning Network - Remote-IT. 

REMOTE-IT Podcast: Our Changing Work Places: What Do We Need for Remote Working?

This entry is part of the Remote-IT Playbook series, developed within the URBACT Remote-IT Action Planning Network (Entry 13 of 22).

Hosted by Mark Thomas, editor of the Dubrovnik Times, this first podcast sets the stage for an insightful discussion on the evolving trends and challenges in remote working.

Meet the guests

Sirja Sulakatko: CEO of the Smartwork Association, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting flexible working practices for over 15 years

 Alexandru Dincovici: Executive Director of the Romanian Businessmen’s Association and co-owner of IziBiz Consulting

Salvatore Modeo: Founder of The Qube, a Certified Business Incubator focusing on development and innovation for start-ups and companies

Incentives for remote workers and diaspora: why they matter and how cities can design them strategically

This entry is part of the Remote-IT Playbook series, developed within the URBACT Remote-IT Action Planning Network (Entry 12 of 22).

REMOTE-IT Online Forum: Beyond Lifestyle - Digital Transformation, Nomads, and Remote Workers

This entry is part of the Remote-IT Playbook series, developed within the URBACT Remote-IT Action Planning Network (Entry 11 of 22).

On October 30, 2024, URBACT Remote-IT Network organized its second Online Forum, focusing on the theme of digitalization. This event delved into the broader implications of digital transformation—how it affects individuals, the advantages and drawbacks of living in the digital age, and how digitalization can be leveraged to improve both personal and professional environments.

The event began with introductory remarks from the organizers, specifically Alisa Aliti Vlašić, the lead expert of the Remote-IT project, and Nataša Mirić, representative of the project’s lead partner, the Dubrovnik Development Agency (DURA). The forum was moderated by Alison Partridge, an ad hoc expert for Remote-IT, whose expertise encompasses technology, inclusive enterprise, entrepreneurship, and economic development in both the UK and European cities. Since 2009, Alison has served as Lead Expert for five different URBACT Action Planning and Transfer Networks, including TechTown and TechRevolution, both led by Barnsley. She is also one of the founding members of the TechPlace community and has led capacity-building programs in digital transitions.

The first part of the forum introduced the speakers: Haydee Sheombar, a researcher at the Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University, and Mark-Emil Talivere, an Innovation Expert from the City of Tallinn.

What remote workers need from cities - key supports and services to attract and retain talent

This entry is part of the Remote-IT Playbook series, developed within the URBACT Remote-IT Action Planning Network (Entry 10 of 22).