About
Decarbonising the global economy is the primary means of tackling glob
Climate change poses an existential threat to humankind at a scale where conventional, technological and governance approaches are insufficient and need innovation. Deep systemic changes and transformative actions are needed (European Environment Agency, 2019). The European Green Deal acknowledges this need and seeks to address it in transforming the EU into a modern, resource-efficient and economically competitive carbon-neutral continent. Net neutrality of emissions of greenhouse gases is to be achieved by 2050 (European Council, 2019). At the same time, these changes are to be achieved while no person and no place is left behind.
Introduction
In its 2022 report, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) spelled out the scale of
UIA has funded 86 urban innovation projects in this programming period. These have been spread across the 14 identified call topics, closely aligned with the priorities of the Urban Agenda for the EU.
Just Transitions was not one of the UIA’s call themes. Consequently, this has not been the focus on the ten case studies presented here. Rather, they have utilised their resources under the banner of Energy Transitions, Climate Change Adaptation, Circular Economy or other topics.
Promising practices
Projects displaying the Promising Practices, in a Just Transitions perspective, are listed in the
We would like to thank the teams who conducted this study and drafted the report, Katalin Kolosy, Jorge Mosquera Suarez, Daniela Patti, Giovanni Pagano, Levente Polyak, Lucia Princikova, Peter Ramsden, Anamaria Vrabie,
A special thank you goes for the project managers and partners of the 12 case studies who contributed with their knowledge to the publication and their active participation to the hearings.
Place-based approaches
This chapter explores a selection of UIA projects from the point of view of the place-based appro
This study focuses on good practices in the integrated territorial approach in the 86 Urban Innovative Actions (UIA) projects financed in the 2014-20 programme period.
Multi-stakeholder and multi-level governance
This chapter explores a selection of UIA projects from the viewpoint of multi-stakeholder and mul
Events
16/Mar/2023
17/Mar/2023
Cities Forum 2023 – Together for green and just cities
The European Commission’s Directorate General for Regional and Urban Policy is organising its biennial major event, the CITIES FORUM, on 16-17 March, 2023 in Torino, Italy.
27/Apr/2022
28/Apr/2022
EU cities acting for just transitions and climate adaptation
UIA & the city of Seville organised a 2-day event to discuss how EU cities can contribute to green and just transitions and showcase concrete experiments to make resilient cities from around the world.
07/Apr/2022
Designing sustainable urban projects: learnings from the Integrated approach in UIA projects
What can we learn from cities embedding key principles of Integrated Territorial Development in UIA projects?
14/Oct/2021
UIA @EURegionsWeek: How to contribute to innovative, integrated and effective urban policies – UIA stories
SAVE THE DATE- UIA projects will be present at the European Week of Regions and Cities on 14th October (9.30-11.00 CET) to share their story at the end of their UIA journey.
14/Oct/2021
UIA @EURegionsWeek: Innovation for Just Urban Transitions
SAVE THE DATE- UIA will be present at the European Week of Regions and Cities on 14th October (11.30-13.00 CET).
During this key EU Regional and Urban policy event, the Initiative will launch its two-years-long Knowledge Activity on Just Transitions in the urban context. Register and explore urban authorities’ contribution to design just zero-carbon transitions that leave no one behind.
During this key EU Regional and Urban policy event, the Initiative will launch its two-years-long Knowledge Activity on Just Transitions in the urban context. Register and explore urban authorities’ contribution to design just zero-carbon transitions that leave no one behind.
22/Apr/2021
Cities engaging in the right to housing: a call for a long-term political commitment
UIA & URBACT are organising a final event featuring the main results of the culminating activity of Cities Engaging in the Right to Housing - a 1.5 year of cooperation between the 2 EU-funded programmes, paving the way to future knowledge sharing within the European Urban Initiative.
11/Mar/2021
Rethinking monitoring and evaluation practices: UIA lessons learnt
In 2020, UIA, together with Ecorys, explored the different approaches of on-going UIA projects to capture the impact of the innovative interventions. It’s now time to share the findings and the knowledge gained to all EU urban practitioners.
03/Feb/2021
17/Feb/2021
Urban Development Network webinars: UIA, achievements and perspectives
With 86 projects supported, UIA has entered in a decisive phase in 2020, aiming at transferring, through the Knowledge Management Strategy, the wealth of knowledge and experiences projects are generating, whilst also laying down the basis to prepare the UIA Initiative for the next Programming period 2021-2027. In this context, the Urban Development Network (UDN) and UIA are joining forces to organize a series of webinars. Join us!
01/Dec/2020
Behaviour change for sustainable mobility -Join the online event!
On 1 December, Urban Innovative Actions Initiative and the Policy Learning Platform of Interreg Europe are joining forces to reflect on behavior change for urban sustainable mobility. From 14:00 to 16:00 PM CET you are invited to join us to learn more and ask your questions directly to cities experimenting innovative solutions to push travellers from individual transport means and pull them to non-motorized transport or collective means.
19/Nov/2020
Housing Fair Finance
As part of a one-year learning activity, URBACT and UIA organised third and final web conference on Thursday 19 November (10am-12pm CET) on the topic of housing fair finance.
15/Oct/2020
Making the most of food in cities @EURegionsWeek 2020
This year the 18th European Week for Regions and Cities goes online from 5 to 22 October 2020. Follow-up on UIA knowledge activities and register to the session on urban food policies organised by the UIA Initiative.
Discover UIA cities bold food solutions to tackle complex urban challenges!
Discover UIA cities bold food solutions to tackle complex urban challenges!
14/Oct/2020
UIA session @EURegionsWeek: Innovation for Urban Mobility
This year the 18th European Week for Regions and Cities goes online from 5 to 22 October 2020. Follow-up on UIA knowledge activities related to urban mobility and register to the "Innovation and Mobility " session.
Join us as we dive into UIA cities reflection and experience on innovation and mobility and discover urban findings and main lessons captured from UIA projects!
Join us as we dive into UIA cities reflection and experience on innovation and mobility and discover urban findings and main lessons captured from UIA projects!
14/Oct/2020
UIA session @EURegionsWeek: How to implement the right to housing?
This year the 18th European Week for Regions and Cities goes online from 5 to 22 October 2020. Follow-up on UIA housing activities and register to the "How to implement the right to housing? " session. During this key EU Regional and Urban policy event, the Initiative will give the floor to UIA cities and EU-level organisations to present their first findings on housing municipal schemes in times of COVID.
26/Jun/2020
Cities engaging in the right to housing - Web conference #2 - No one left behind
Today, more European cities and social movements are calling governments at all levels to take responsibility for reaffirming housing as a right and not as a commodity. They are also showing the way by trying out concrete actions to implement the right to housing. This web conference #2 was dedicated to housing exclusion, focussing on vulnerabilities related to homelessness and migration. At least 700 000 people are homeless any given night in the EU, 70% more than a decade ago. In addition, the current COVID-19 emergency shows how essential housing is, considering to that many people cannot access secure, safe home, or are at risk of housing difficulties loosing jobs and working opportunities.
24/Apr/2020
How can cities build alternative community-led housing models? - URBACT-UIA webconference on community-led practices
URBACT and UIA organised a web conference (24 April) on Community-Led practices, exploring the practical ways cities implement community-led practices for housing. 300 participants shared their ideas and experiences with city practitioners and experts on how to design alternative housing models that meet the residents needs for safe, adequate and affordable housing.
30/Jan/2020
31/Jan/2020
Meet all UIA Cities at the Cities Forum in Porto!
The UIA is actively participating in the 4th edition of the Cities Forum, organised by the European Commission, Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy, and the City of Porto, on 30-31 January 2020 in Porto. Make sure to book your seat by Friday 29 November!
26/Nov/2019
05/Dec/2019
Register for the online one-to-one individual consultation sessions
With the Call 5 deadline quickly approaching, do you have pressing questions that you would like to ask to the Permanent Secretariat? Individual consultations are one of the many chances to speak with our Project and Finance officers. They are now fully booked!
05/Nov/2019
Applicant Seminar Call 5 in Brussels
UIA will hold an Applicant Seminar in Brussels on 05 November 2019. The event is now full and registration is closed.
22/Oct/2019
12/Nov/2019
Register to our online support sessions
In addition to the seminars, the Permanent Secretariat will also organise online sessions with applicants – two collective Q&A sessions, on 22 October (14:30 – 16:00 CET) and on 12 November (14:30 – 16:00 CET), as well as several one-to-one individual consultation sessions in November and December.
15/Oct/2019
Applicant Seminar Call 5 in Prague
UIA will has held an Applicant Seminar in Prague on 15 October 2019.
07/Oct/2019
10/Oct/2019
UIA workshops at the European Week of Regions and Cities 2019
The European Week of Regions and Cities is the annual event organised by Committee of the Regions and DG Regional and Urban Policy for cities and regions. It will take place in Brussels from 07 to 10 October 2019. UIA will host two workshops and registrations are now open on the EUWRC website.
12/Jun/2019
13/Jun/2019
UIA workshop on the Integration of Migrants and Refugees
The UIA initiative in cooperation with the City of Antwerp are pleased to invite you to the workshop entitled "The role of cities in the integration of migrants and refugees", taking place in the Flemish city on 12/13 June 2019, alongside the EUROCITIES Working group on Migration and Integration. Make sure to register before the 29th of May 2019.
05/Jun/2019
06/Jun/2019
UIA projects at the International Social Housing Festival
The International Social Housing Festival (ISHF), organised by Housing Europe, is traveling to Lyon in summer 2019. As a part of it, UIA will host a special event from 14:00 to 21:00 on 05 June. Registrations are now open.
16/May/2019
17/May/2019
UIA projects at the 4th Circular Change Conference
Four UIA cities (Antwerp, Heraklion, Ljubljana, Maribor) will take part in a dedicated workshop on Circular Economy. Registrations are now open.
08/Jan/2019
17/Jan/2019
Registration for the online one-to-one individual consultation sessions is now closed
With the Call 4 deadline quickly approaching, do you have pressing questions that you would like to ask to the Permanent Secretariat? Individual consultations are one of your chances to speak with our Project and Finance officers.
04/Dec/2018
12/Dec/2018
Register to our online support sessions
In addition to the seminars, the Permanent Secretariat will also organise online sessions with applicants – two collective Q&A sessions, on 04 and on 12 December, as well as several one-to-one individual consultation sessions in January.
28/Nov/2018
Applicant Seminar Call 4 in Brussels
UIA will hold an Applicant Seminar in Brussels on 28 November 2018. Registrations for this event are now closed.
21/Nov/2018
Applicant Seminar Call 4 in Munich
UIA will hold an Applicant Seminar in Munich on 21 November 2018. Registration for this event is now closed.
08/Oct/2018
11/Oct/2018
Three UIA workshops at the European Week of Regions and Cities
The European Week of Regions and Cities is the annual event organised by Committee of the Regions and DG Regional and Urban Policy for cities and regions. It will take place in Brussels from 08 to 11 October 2018. UIA will host three workshops. Registrations now open on the EUWRC website.
28/Jun/2018
29/Jun/2018
UIA Permanent Secretariat at the UDN Event for Baltic urban authorities
The UIA Secretariat will be present at the UDN event dedicated to Baltic urban authorities that will take place in Liepaja (Latvia) on the 28th and 29th of June.
22/Jun/2018
Registration now open: grab your place at the UIA Jobs & Skills capitalisation workshop
Register to the UIA Capitalisation workshop on the topic of Jobs and Skills in the local economy. The event will take place on 22 June 2018 in the Ateliers des Tanneurs, in Brussels, Belgium. The event will be the first capitalisation and dissemination activity of the Urban Innovative Actions Initiative.
05/Jun/2018
UIA projects at the EU Sustainable Energy Week!
As part of the upcoming EU Sustainable Energy Week, the UIA initiative will partner up with the Urban Agenda Energy transition partnership for the “Energy transition in action” workshop. The workshop will take place on the 5th of June, from 4 to 5.30pm in Brussels (Charlemagne building, meeting room “De Gasperi”).
22/May/2018
25/May/2018
UIA projects at the EU Green Week 2018
Are you participating to this year’s edition of the EU Green week and eager to hear more about UIA projects? Find out more about which projects will be presented.
27/Mar/2018
UIA at the UDN workshop for Irish cities
The Urban Development Network Workshop will take place in Cork on 27th March 2018. The workshop is organised by the Commission, the Committee of the Regions, the Southern Regional Assembly and the City of Cork as hosts. Members of the UIA Permanent Secretariat will take part together with representatives from UIA projects.
09/Mar/2018
Watch the webinar on the project management and communication work packages, and register to the live Q&A!
Can a Delivery partner be in charge of the project management? What do you need to ensure a sound management and coordination of the project? You would like to receive some practical examples and advice to better structure your project management WP? How to design a communication strategy? Learn all you need to know in this pre-recorded webinar. Still have questions? Register to the online Q&A session to be held on 9 March 2018 from 10am (CET)!
28/Feb/2018
02/Mar/2018
UIA at the Urban Future Global Conference 2018
More than 3,000 city changers are meeting in Vienna from 28 February until 02 March at the UFGC, Europe’s largest event for sustainable cities. UIA will be part of it with a stand and speakers from UIA projects will participate in workshops, come and join us!
23/Feb/2018
Watch the webinar on the eligibility of funds and register to the live Q&A!
Does your project fit the activities you are proposing in your Work Plan? Does each project partner need to secure co-financing contribution? Are all your planned project costs eligible? Learn all you need to know in this pre-recorded webinar. Still have questions? Register to the online Q&A session to be held on 23 February 2018 from 10.00am (CET)!
22/Feb/2018
Applicant Seminar in Brussels
UIA will hold an Applicant Seminar in Brussels on 22 February 2018. Registration for this event is now closed.
16/Feb/2018
Webinar exploring the intervention logic and work plan and live Q&A
Not sure what the difference between an output and a result is? How is an activity planned and shaped in a UIA application form? Learn all you need to know in this pre-recorded webinar. Still have questions? Register to the online Q&A session to be held on 16 February 2018 from 10.30am (CET)!
07/Feb/2018
Applicant Seminar in Malmö
UIA will hold an Applicant Seminar in Malmö on 07 February 2018. Registration for this event is now closed. If you wish to attend, please send us an email at info@uia-initiative.eu
02/Feb/2018
Webinar dedicated to Partnership eligibility and Q&A session
Wondering how UIA partnerships look like? Not sure if your Urban Authority is eligible? Learn all you need to know in this pre-recorded webinar. Still have questions? Register to the online Q&A session to be held on 2 February 2018 from 10.30am (CET)!
23/Jan/2018
Applicant Seminar in Zagreb
UIA will hold an Applicant Seminar in Zagreb on 23 January 2017. Registration for this event is closed. If you wish to attend, please send an email to info@uia-initiative.eu
11/Jan/2018
Applicant Seminar in Bucharest
UIA will hold an Applicant Seminar in Bucharest on 11 January 2018. Registrations for this event are now closed.
27/Nov/2017
28/Nov/2017
UIA at the Cities Forum
The 3rd edition of the Cities Forum organised by the European Commission will take place in Rotterdam on 27/28 November 2017. UIA will be present with a stand and UIA cities will participate in workshops and panel discussions. Register now!
10/Oct/2017
UIA workshop at the European Week of Regions and Cities
The European Week of Regions and Cities is the annual event organised by Committee of the Regions and DG Regional and Urban Policy for cities and regions. It will take place in Brussels from 09 to 12 October 2017. UIA will host a workshop on 10 October together with DG REGIO. Registrations are now closed.
13/Jun/2017
Urban Agenda for the EU – Participate in the Air Quality partnership stakeholder workshop
The Air Quality partnership will meet on 13 June in London for a stakeholder workshop. The Partnership will present its first results and engage with the audience to shape recommendations and actions to improve knowledge, legislation and funding on air quality measures.
09/Feb/2017
UDN event on the UIA 2nd call for Proposals
The Urban Development Network (UDN), managed by the European Commission, and the UIA Permanent Secretariat are joining forces to support urban authorities interested in the 2nd UIA Call for Proposals in preparing their project proposals.
02/Feb/2017
23/Feb/2017
Applicants webinars - 2nd Call for Proposals
Over the course of February, the Permanent Secretariat of the UIA initiative will organise a series of four webinars to support interested organisations in the preparation of their 2nd Call application.
26/Jan/2017
Budapest Applicant Seminar
UIA will hold an Applicant Seminar in Budapest on 26 January 2017. Registrations for this event are now closed.
19/Jan/2017
Thessaloniki Applicant Seminar
UIA will hold an Applicant Seminar in Thessaloniki on 19 January 2017. Registrations for this event are closed.
07/Dec/2016
Porto Applicant Seminar
The second UIA Applicant Seminar for Call 2 took place in Porto on 07 December 2016.
01/Dec/2016
Lille Applicant Seminar
150 people attended the first UIA Applicant Seminar for Call 2 that took place in Lille on 01st December 2016.
23/Nov/2016
UIA at the Urban Development Network conference on Mobility
UIA will introduce Call 2 and its urban mobility topic at the Urban Development Network conference on 'Smart, Innovative & Sustainable urban mobility' organised by the European Commission on 23 November 2016 in Brussels.
12/Oct/2016
Announcement of approved projects for the 1st call for Proposals
The UIA will be proud to announce the selected projects of the 1st Call for Proposals in Brussels on 12 October 2016, during the political event on the EU Urban Agenda at the EWRC.
10/Oct/2016
13/Oct/2016
UIA at the European Week of Regions and Cities
The European Week of Regions and Cities (formerly the Open Days) is the annual event organised by Committee of the Regions and DG Regional and Urban Policy for cities and regions. It will take place in Brussels from 10 to 13 of October 2016. UIA 's interactive session on 11th of October is already fully booked!
30/May/2016
CoR Forum on the EU Urban Agenda
The Committee of the Regions is organizing a forum on the EU Urban Agenda in the Westergasfabriek in Amsterdam on the 30th of May 2016. UIA will attend and hold a stand in the exhibition area.
16/Mar/2016
18/Mar/2016
United Nations Habitat III Regional Meeting in Prague
UIA will take part in the UN Conference Habitat III Europe Regional Meeting "European Habitat", taking place in Prague from the 16th to the 18th of March 2016.
13/Jan/2016
Brussels Applicant Seminar
1st UIA Applicant Seminar in Brussels on the 13th of January 2016