European Week of Regions and Cities in Brussels: register now for the URBACT workshops!

Under the headline ‘Regions and cities for sustainable and inclusive growth’, some 100 sessions, seminars and meetings will be organised alongside the following thematic strands:

-Sustained and sustainable economic growth: This strand will consider which regions and cities are currently the more successful in drawing new investments and why. It will look specifically at the new opportunities linked to innovation with particular reference to energy efficiency, developing the low-carbon economy and promoting the circular economy as well as smart specialisation.
-Inclusive economic growth: How are labour market and social inclusion policies for disadvantaged sections of the population developed and implemented at local level? This strand will also allow regions and cities to share their experiences in tackling the refugee crisis, including through the use of EU funds.
-Making European and Structural Investment Funds simpler: What can be learned from experience and good practices of regional and national authorities implementing programmes supported under European Structural and Investment Funds? This strand will also examine best practice in urban development, integrated territorial investment programmes and community-led local development.

URBACT will be present with two workshops on 12 October as follows:

1)      Pathways to a circular economy in cities and regions

Organised by ESPON, INTERACT, INTERREG EUROPE, URBACT III on 12/10/16 at 09:00-11:15 (Code:12A61)

Circular economy is one of Europe’s recent trendiest phrases. But what does it really mean and what is it really for the cities and regions?

Unlike traditional linear 'take-make-consume-throw away' economic patterns, a circular economy at local and regional scales moves to a more resilient closed-loop system of local production, distribution, consumption, management waste (with waste becoming a re-usable resource), etc.

Over the last months ESPON, INTERACT, INTERREG EUROPE and URBACT, have joined forces to explore and share with participants of this workshop:

-The latest debate about what circular economy is
-What this means for cities and regions
-City practices where circular economy is already applied (local food chains, industry waste, etc)
-Steps cities and regions can take to promote circular economy.

2)      How can cities use smart technology to encourage a circular chain of local production, distribution and consumption?
Organised by URBACT on 12/10/16 at 11:15-13:00 (Code: URB12A89)

Open data, match-making applications among enterprises, web platforms for citizens, social media have an enormous potential in changing a city’s local economy and citizens' behaviour to consumption. They provide a better knowledge of local resources available; facilitate connections and collaboration among different local stakeholders with common interests which in turn contribute to a smarter use of local resources and assets.  Cities have a key role to play in making these technologies available to their citizens and private sector.

Building on the assets of different cities involved in URBACT networks, this workshop will present examples of how cities are exploiting smart technologies, connected to local food policies, enterprise waste and others, in order to contribute to local economic growth. The workshop will also provide guidance and recommendations for cities willing to develop or adapt similar solutions to their local contexts.

Register to the workshops HERE !
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