Networks and cities' news

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.

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