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. 

'Migrant crisis': which engagement for Europe and the Urban Agenda?

Following the article on affordable housing in Europe, we're continuing our series on the Urban Agenda for Europe partnerhsips. This month - inclusion refugees and migrants. To be read together with ‘Migrant Crisis’: what can cities learn about new service design? by Eddy Adams.

‘Migrant crisis’: what can cities learn about new service design?

A message from Sicily

There’s been a lot of recent talk about the additional pressure new migrant arrivals place on public services. There has been less discussion about how cities – and it is mainly cities – are coping with this. And less still about what we are learning and the implications for future public services.

This was the focus of a recent Social Innovation Europe event in Siracusa Sicily. Meeting on one of Europe’s front lines gave us the chance to see what’s happening and to hear about lessons emerging from our recent experiences. We were particularly interested to examine the range of social innovations emerging to meet new service demands.

This article shares some of these new service examples. It also considers what they tell us about the new service design dynamics they reflect. Finally, we conclude with reference to Ezio Manzini's call for a new narrative around migrants, aligned to a design-led approach to service development.

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.

 

EU Urban Agenda: The challenge of “affordable housing” in Europe

In 2014 the Guardian published an article titled “Affordable housing does not mean what you think it means”. The article shows the limits of what can be considered “affordable housing” in London, where housing has become among the most worrisome and alarming issue of socio-economic inequality. The catchy and provoking title invites to reflect beyond the assumption that “affordable housing” means the same for all. What is affordable, under which criteria and for whom, which are the tricks and scams that can be hidden in catch-all policy terms? 

Damaged (by) goods? The case for sustainable urban freight logistics

Viaggio tra le esperienze di riuso temporaneo realizzate a Ravenna, punto di partenza dell'azione di rigenerazione creativa del territorio al centro del network URBACT Creative Spirits

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

CHANGE! Social design of public services

Our scope: people-powered public services
Interview with Ms Yvonne Blankwater, Strategy Department, City of Eindhoven interviewed by Ferenc Szigeti-Borocz, lead expert of CHANGE! Project

There is broad consensus that public services will look very different in the close future, since not only are public services to meet increasing public expectations and grand (let’s say never seen) societal challenges, but they are also constrained by significant financial shortage. On the other hand, a new generation has emerged that does not want to wait for ineffective top-down solutions and reclaims the right to act in the city. Opening public services towards more collaborative ones is the future and the first attempts are now being experienced in the U.S. (e.g. cities of service), U.K. (e.g. community right to challenge) or Scandinavia, and the WeEindhoven experimental programme, launched by the City of Eindhoven fits to this global trend as well. The first (sub) results are promising: people-powered public services can make social services more effective, cheaper and at the same time increase social capital and inclusion.