1. How can we actively involve the neighbours? not just by “talking” but actually “doing”, in the design and management of the renewal of their districts and their social, environmental, and economic activity?
(Facilitator: Anna Wallsten)

The University of the Basque Country and the Department of Territorial Planning, Housing and Transport constitute the Centre for Research and Innovation in Urban Regeneration (CI+IRU), aimed at promoting urban ecological transition actions in the areas defined by the Science and Technology Plan and the RIS3 of Euskadi: mobility and energy, naturalization and green infrastructures and circular economy.

CI+IRU has created an international research network to capture and integrate knowledge and experiences in the indicated fields and propose projects and actions of innovation and knowledge transfer in specific locations to neighbourhood development and project management groups and various socioeconomic agents.

To obtain maximum efficiency in innovation and knowledge transfer, it will create a network of cooperative entities of a socio-economic nature, designed and managed by the residents of each neighbourhood, who collaborate with each entity in the design and management of their projects and activities. of the working groups, CI+IRU.

The challenge is to generate a substantial change in the quality of life of neighbourhoods, turning them into real models of transition for a healthy, sustainable and digital Europe of the 21th century, in which the neighbours are the main protagonists. “But, do not just talk. Do”.

2. How can we actively involve the neighbours? not just by “talking” but actually “doing”, in the design and management of the renewal of their districts and their social, environmental, and economic activity?
(Facilitator: Jin Moen)

The University of the Basque Country and the Department of Territorial Planning, Housing and Transport constitute the Centre for Research and Innovation in Urban Regeneration (CI+IRU), aimed at promoting urban ecological transition actions in the areas defined by the Science and Technology Plan and the RIS3 of Euskadi: mobility and energy, naturalization and green infrastructures and circular economy.

1. How to design sustainable, innovative, digital and affordable student housing in a dynamic urban fabric?
(Facilitator: Anna Grönberg)

Like many metropolis in Europe, Bordeaux is a highly attractive urban center for students of the city’s region and beyond. Sustainable, comfortable, and affordable housing proves to be an ever-growing issue that the local government – Bordeaux Inno Campus together with all university structures, local and regional authorities – have decided to tackle. Through a local program (Augmented university for Campus and world Transition program), a living-lab project has been launched to design and build an evolutive and resilient prototype of student housing in order to address the urgency of climate change and societal transitions. The challenge is how can we draw upon cross-disciplinary knowledge around the student housing issue, from the use of recycled and bio-based materials, building-integrated innovative technology, and biological system management, to the study of socio-spatial practices and urban integration in a multi-activity campus. What kind of digital and operational methodologies can we develop to design a fully functioning, resilient, innovative, and affordable prototype that can adapt to local student housing challenges?

2. How to design sustainable, innovative, digital and affordable student housing in a dynamic urban fabric?
(Facilitator: David Murphy)

Like many metropolis in Europe, Bordeaux is a highly attractive urban center for students of the city’s region and beyond. Sustainable, comfortable, and affordable housing proves to be an ever-growing issue that the local government – Bordeaux Inno Campus together with all university structures, local and regional authorities – have decided to tackle. Through a local program (Augmented university for Campus and world Transition program), a living-lab project has been launched to design and build an evolutive and resilient prototype of student housing in order to address the urgency of climate change and societal transitions. The challenge is how can we draw upon cross-disciplinary knowledge around the student housing issue, from the use of recycled and bio-based materials, building-integrated innovative technology, and biological system management, to the study of socio-spatial practices and urban integration in a multi-activity campus. What kind of digital and operational methodologies can we develop to design a fully functioning, resilient, innovative, and affordable prototype that can adapt to local student housing challenges?

1. How can we turn the city into a sponge?
(Facilitator: Anna Grönberg)

Climate change makes Ghent vulnerable to more and more intense heat waves, more extreme heat showers and longer droughts. We have set an ambitious goal for the City: by 2030 we want to be climate-robust. One of the objectives is to make the underground of Ghent work like a sponge. A rain shower that occurs up to once every 20 years should not cause damage to buildings, roads or other urban infrastructure in Ghent.

The big challenge is how to turn the city into a sponge. Within this challenge, there are many other challenges to consider. We list a few of them here.

How can we open up waterways and canals without expediting water from the city?
How can we close water cycles?
How should we design the sewerage system to return rainwater to the neighbourhood, so that it infiltrates on site and replenishes the groundwater?
How can we store rainwater in the neighbourhood in winter so that we have an alternative water source for, for example, urban greenery in the event of drought?
How can we strategically provide water elements in the neighbourhoods to give all residents the necessary access to water and cooling during heat waves?
Urban development projects rarely take into account the impact that the position, height and geometry of a new building can have on the heat island effect. Here too, the impact of blocking a ventilation corridor on the air and perceived temperature could be mapped out in a more objective manner.

2. How can we turn the city into a sponge?
(Facilitator: Martha Middlemiss Lé Mon)

Climate change makes Ghent vulnerable to more and more intense heat waves, more extreme heat showers and longer droughts. We have set an ambitious goal for the City: by 2030 we want to be climate-robust. One of the objectives is to make the underground of Ghent work like a sponge. A rain shower that occurs up to once every 20 years should not cause damage to buildings, roads or other urban infrastructure in Ghent.

The big challenge is how to turn the city into a sponge. Within this challenge, there are many other challenges to consider. We list a few of them here.

How can we open up waterways and canals without expediting water from the city?
How can we close water cycles?
How should we design the sewerage system to return rainwater to the neighbourhood, so that it infiltrates on site and replenishes the groundwater?
How can we store rainwater in the neighbourhood in winter so that we have an alternative water source for, for example, urban greenery in the event of drought?
How can we strategically provide water elements in the neighbourhoods to give all residents the necessary access to water and cooling during heat waves?
Urban development projects rarely take into account the impact that the position, height and geometry of a new building can have on the heat island effect. Here too, the impact of blocking a ventilation corridor on the air and perceived temperature could be mapped out in a more objective manner.

Digital skills and security: a gamely approach to a serious matter?
(Facilitator: Cecilia Nilsson)

Contemporary world is digitalized. Since a very young age, individuals get access to the internet, using it for communication, education, entertainment, shopping etc. – all the possible variety of services. Smart devices, flash drives, mobile credit cards, alarm systems, are an integral part of our everyday life. Though being an obvious progressive motion, sometimes technologies present challenges in terms of security. Therefore, the question of digital security is being raised – how to educate the general public in terms of digital skills and security? In our Safer Kids Online initiative, our security experts cooperated with IT teachers and a child psychologist in developing the “Digital Security Handbook” for computer science teachers. In a gamely manner, it is possible to attract interest to the subject of security and to introduce some basic mechanisms of safe operation mode for a younger generation. Yet, there remains a problem with older generation – since a lot of public services in cities are being digitalized, the effort is put upon educating people of how to use the services. The question of security often comes second or is being omitted whatsoever. What approach can we take to highlight the importance of security within digitalized services in our broad communities?

1. Get Galway Moving Smarter: How can we use digitization to make significant improvements on the sustainability and efficiency of the transport network in our city?
(Facilitator: Harris Stamatopoulos)

Smart Mobility can take on many different forms, including but not limited to car-sharing, public transportation, walking and cycling. To be adopted by the citizens of the city it must be flexible, efficient and integrated.

Galway has no central repository of information for all modes of transport relating to travelling in and out of the city. If this information was available and easily accessible it would allow the public to make better-informed decisions on when it comes to choosing their mode of transport and allow them to efficiently plan their commute. This could help to drive a modal shift from private vehicle use to public transport and cycling/walking.

Cyclists can access information on the safest cycling routes into the city. Public transport users can get real-time scheduling information on all routes. Car users can access car park space availability.

Get Galway Moving Smarter is critical to realising the potential of the city. It is a vital enabler, not just for sustainable mobility, but also for sustaining and growing the local economy.

2. Get Galway Moving Smarter: How can we use digitization to make significant improvements on the sustainability and efficiency of the transport network in our city?
(Facilitator: Cecilia Nilsson)

Smart Mobility can take on many different forms, including but not limited to car-sharing, public transportation, walking and cycling. To be adopted by the citizens of the city it must be flexible, efficient and integrated.

Galway has no central repository of information for all modes of transport relating to travelling in and out of the city. If this information was available and easily accessible it would allow the public to make better-informed decisions on when it comes to choosing their mode of transport and allow them to efficiently plan their commute. This could help to drive a modal shift from private vehicle use to public transport and cycling/walking.

Cyclists can access information on the safest cycling routes into the city. Public transport users can get real-time scheduling information on all routes. Car users can access car park space availability.

Get Galway Moving Smarter is critical to realising the potential of the city. It is a vital enabler, not just for sustainable mobility, but also for sustaining and growing the local economy.

1. to create a more inclusive energy transition based on ensuring also low income households may actively join, invest and benefit from energy transition?
(Facilitator: Björn Nyström)

While energy transition has over the past years accelerated and has become a key urban planning challenge, its complexity has increasingly become evident. Among the key challenges is the recognition that investing in the existing building stock to boost energy efficiency, shift towards novel modes of heating or integrate renewable energy technologies requires a wide range of stakeholders. Apart from public authorities and utility companies, these include project developers, housing associations and private citizens. Not all of these will have the level of expertise, financial resources, time or willingness to do so. Notably, a large group of homeowners and renters may not be able to invest. Many of these do or may soon face risks of energy poverty, reducing their capacity to pay their energy bills. Subsequently, in not being able to invest in the sustainability of their homes, there may similarly be increased inequality between this group and those households that can do so. This is not merely a challenge that may impede a swift energy transition, but has clear societal and individual repercussions. As identifying novel tools and strategies relies on the role of new technologies, legal and financial tools and policy innovation, this challenges is also explicitly an interdisciplinary challenge.

2. How to create a more inclusive energy transition based on ensuring also low income households may actively join, invest and benefit from energy transition?
(Facilitator: Harris Stamatopoulos)

While energy transition has over the past years accelerated and has become a key urban planning challenge, its complexity has increasingly become evident. Among the key challenges is the recognition that investing in the existing building stock to boost energy efficiency, shift towards novel modes of heating or integrate renewable energy technologies requires a wide range of stakeholders. Apart from public authorities and utility companies, these include project developers, housing associations and private citizens. Not all of these will have the level of expertise, financial resources, time or willingness to do so. Notably, a large group of homeowners and renters may not be able to invest. Many of these do or may soon face risks of energy poverty, reducing their capacity to pay their energy bills. Subsequently, in not being able to invest in the sustainability of their homes, there may similarly be increased inequality between this group and those households that can do so. This is not merely a challenge that may impede a swift energy transition, but has clear societal and individual repercussions. As identifying novel tools and strategies relies on the role of new technologies, legal and financial tools and policy innovation, this challenges is also explicitly an interdisciplinary challenge.

1. How can we create simulations to explore the benefits of de-centralised energy systems through energy communities?
(Facilitator: Jenny Nordquist)

Gotland is aiming for a decentralised, resilient and smart energy system, based on renewable energy sources. Local energy communities, as local energy cooperatives in active interaction with end-users, are expected to play an active role in the desired energy system transition. These energy communities may typically exist in local communities where citizens unite in creating common energy platforms. The challenge we would like to put forward is to simulate the potential advantages with a decentralised energy system and through that show also how the parties involved, primarily investors in decentralised solutions (energy communities) and DSOs, can develop mutually beneficial business models. In short, we wish to illustrate the values of flexibility in a regional distribution net (like Gotland).

2. How can we create simulations to explore the benefits of de-centralised energy systems through energy communities?
(Facilitator: Lina Emilsson)

Gotland is aiming for a decentralised, resilient and smart energy system, based on renewable energy sources. Local energy communities, as local energy cooperatives in active interaction with end-users, are expected to play an active role in the desired energy system transition. These energy communities may typically exist in local communities where citizens unite in creating common energy platforms. The challenge we would like to put forward is to simulate the potential advantages with a decentralised energy system and through that show also how the parties involved, primarily investors in decentralised solutions (energy communities) and DSOs, can develop mutually beneficial business models. In short, we wish to illustrate the values of flexibility in a regional distribution net (like Gotland).

1. What can be improved in regard to public services and what is the perception of the living environment that generates physical and mental well-being of citizens?
(Facilitator: Jin Moen)

Cities are for citizens and not the other way around. Citizens choose rulers whose primary task is to create a safe, healthy, developing living environment that offers them creative and entrepreneurial freedom.

However, it often happens that those in power base their decisions on other principles, and not always intentionally, but rather out of ignorance. From time to time, intensive lobbying by various stakeholders can also lead to biased choices that do not serve the interests and needs of most community members. What are the methods and tools (including technical ones) that help rulers understand what people really need (don’t want)? Which decision-making models best help to maintain bias and also allow citizens to participate directly in the process?

2. What can be improved in regard to public services and what is the perception of the living environment that generates physical and mental well-being of citizens?
(Facilitator: Marta Middlemiss Lé Mon)

Cities are for citizens and not the other way around. Citizens choose rulers whose primary task is to create a safe, healthy, developing living environment that offers them creative and entrepreneurial freedom.

However, it often happens that those in power base their decisions on other principles, and not always intentionally, but rather out of ignorance. From time to time, intensive lobbying by various stakeholders can also lead to biased choices that do not serve the interests and needs of most community members. What are the methods and tools (including technical ones) that help rulers understand what people really need (don’t want)? Which decision-making models best help to maintain bias and also allow citizens to participate directly in the process?

3. What can be improved in regard to public services and what is the perception of the living environment that generates physical and mental well-being of citizens?
(Facilitator: Jenny Nordquist)

Cities are for citizens and not the other way around. Citizens choose rulers whose primary task is to create a safe, healthy, developing living environment that offers them creative and entrepreneurial freedom.

However, it often happens that those in power base their decisions on other principles, and not always intentionally, but rather out of ignorance. From time to time, intensive lobbying by various stakeholders can also lead to biased choices that do not serve the interests and needs of most community members. What are the methods and tools (including technical ones) that help rulers understand what people really need (don’t want)? Which decision-making models best help to maintain bias and also allow citizens to participate directly in the process?