JPI Urban Europe Launches SRIA 2.0 and Strengthens its Relevance to
Urban Policy Agendas
Last week, 200 participants gathered at the European Committee of the Regions in Brussels for the JPI Urban Europe policy conference and the the launch of the updated Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda, SRIA 2.0. Discussions during the day touched upon JPI Urban Europe as a knowledge hub of relevance to cities.
The SRIA 2.0 identifies and addresses key dilemmas that are created by the plurality of urban challenges, strategies or stakeholder interests. Several speakers acknowledged that the dilemma approach seems promising to address the complexity of urban transitions and relevant to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Three core values were highlighted which are brought on by the challenges of implementing the SRIA 2.0. Firstly, JPI Urban Europe wants to mobilize and support small and medium size cities. Secondly, cities are not seen as ‘end-users’, but as partners. Finally, over the last years JPI Urban Europe has cooperated with many units in the European Commission dealing with urban matters and connected the different approaches, the related research communities and urban policies.
The conference closed with a discussion on the future role of JPI Urban Europe and the view on how JPI Urban Europe best can support the implementation of urban policy agendas in Europe and internationally.
A Strategic Agenda to Align European R&D with Global Urban Challenges
JPI Urban Europe has updated its Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda, SRIA 2.0. The agenda will guide the activities and research priorities in the programme until 2026 and the strategic priorities were identified in a comprehensive process with broad involvement of urban actors. The agenda centers around four core dilemmas: Digital Transitions in Urban Governance, From Urban Resilience to Robustness, Sustainable Land-Use and Urban Infrastructure and Inclusive Public Spaces for Urban Liveability.
How do we create the urban environment of the 21st century – sustainable, liveable, inclusive? What strategies do we need to develop neighbourhoods – both existing and newly built – that contribute to climate goals and the energy transition while providing high and affordable quality of living for its inhabitants? Joining forces with SET Plan Action 3.2 on Smart Cities, JPI Urban Europe coordinates the “PED Programme”, a transnational, intergovernmental initiative for large-scale implementation of Positive Energy Districts and Neighbourhoods for sustainable urbanization.
Copyright: Michael Chia, 2019
Panel discussion at the PED Programme breakout session during the JPI Urban Europe policy conference
On February 13the Making Cities Work call projects had a kick-off meeting at Norway House in Brussels. The meeting provided an opportunity for the project partners to discuss common challenges, share ideas, inspire and be inspired. They also got useful information and a sense of the JPI Urban Europe community.
UrbanMAESTRO - Urban Design Governance in European Cities
On February 14, back-to-back with JPI Urban Europe’s policy conference, UrbanMAESTRO – Urban Design Governance in European Cities (funded by the European Commission) was kicked-off in the newly opened House of United Nations in Brussels. The launch provided an overview of the project’s activities, aimed at building synergies with other initiatives, policies and projects and asked participants for their feedback.The thematic focus and the approach of Urban Maestro resonates very well with JPI Urban Europe’s Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda 2.0 in terms of building urban transformation capacities.
How do we make use of the large quantities of data that cities produce? SMART-FI seeks to not only analyze open data, but to come up with actions and solutions based on otherwise unused information.
In an interview with SMART-FI's project coordinator Malena Donato we talk about optimizing urban mobility using cutting edge technology.
Nowadays, energy supply networks in cities – natural gas, electricity and heating/cooling – are almost always planned and operated separately from each other. This “silo-like” approach is something the JPI Urban Europe funded project IntegrCiTy wants to prevent. “Actually the specific parts of what we’re doing is not new, what is new is the synergy. We’re not trying to reinvent the wheel, we’re trying to get all the wheels to turn at the same time" says Massimiliano Capezzali, project coordinator of IntegrCiTy.
ERA NET Smart Cities and communities Final event 2 April 2019, Vienna Read more
Positive Energy Districts and Neighbourhoods Cities Workshop & Side Events 2 - 4 April 2019, Vienna
Aimed at city representatives - Invitation only
Workshop:TRANS-FORM 4 April 2019, Lausanne Read more
Urban Future Global Conference 22-24 May 2019, Oslo
JPI Urban Europe are next year an academic partner to Europe's biggest event on how to make cities more sustainable! With more than 50 sessions on urban mobility, built environment, green business & innovation and leadership as well as numerous field trips in and around Oslo this is one of the signature events of Oslo European Green Capital 2019. Read more
The Nature of Cities Summit 4-7 June 2019, Paris Read more
AESOP Annual Congress 9-13 July 2019, Venice Read more
Copyright: Michael Chia, 2019
