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Check URBACT's latest stories, updates and events!

 

  • URBACT, another paradigm for European cities

    With the integrated urban development approach promoted by the URBACT European programme, new models for improving our cities together are currently under construction. This is the narrative of a story that is already over fifteen years old.

    (Translation of an article published in French in the magazine Urbanisme, issue n° 404, Spring 2017)

    By Emmanuel Moulin, Head of the URBACT secretariat, and Eddy Adams, URBACT Programme expert

    Emmanuel Moulin

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  • REFILL MATCH-MAKERS

    The REFILL project is all about the reuse of vacant spaces. A key question is how these spaces are filled to best use. This article describes the speed dating process between city authority departments and bottom-up initiatives which are candidates for the temporary use of urban vacant spaces.

    The challenges of Zaklad Markerspace in Poznan

    François Jégou

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  • The co-working revolution

    What can cities do to create open workspaces where entrepreneurs can connect and grow jobs?

    An explosion of new workspace

    Alison Partridge

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  • The urban dimension of smart specialisation: building a two-way bridge

    Smart specialisation and its related methodology known as Research and Innovation Strategy for Smart Specialisation (RIS3) have been assessed as “the most comprehensive industrial policy experience being implemented in contemporary Europe”. In this context, what is the role to be played by cities? Right now, at the time of implementation, a number of major cities feel they have much to contribute in moving RIS3 visions and roadmaps forward. So, what are the pathways and frameworks to enhance better alignment between regions and cities with regard to existing RIS3 strategies? What is the urban dimension of smart specialisation? This article brings some insights to these questions.

    Miguel Rivas

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  • How community-based social activism can develop, retain and attract young creative-tech talent in Europe’s cities

    GEN-Y City is an URBACT III Network exploring how European cities can develop, retain and attract the young creative-tech talent they need to thrive and prosper. One of the major findings coming out of the project is that the way in which city administrations engage and collaborate with young people on the design of the city and delivering public services can influence young people’s career choices and their commitment to stay in a city. Here Jim Sims, Lead Expert for GEN-Y City, offers commentary on young people’s attitudes and behaviour related to urban activism.

    Jim Sims

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  • 10 ways to engage SMEs in procurement

    Historically Small to Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) have faced a range of barriers in accessing procurement opportunities and in winning contracts. These barriers include: contracting authorities being unaware of SMEs and the types of goods and services they can potentially provide; SMEs viewing the procurement process, often rightly, as overly bureaucratic; SMEs not having the capacity to bid for opportunities and compete with large business; and the process of procurement often being undertaken on the basis of cost thus ruling out the ability of SMEs to demonstrate their wider value.

    sbamber

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