What Happened During the OPEN DAYS 2013?

WORKSHOP - More jobs, better cities and regions: how can cities and regions best create and support more and better jobs? Lessons from inter regional cooperation

0% of Europe's population is unemployed. In some regions over half of young people are out of work. More jobs are needed (almost 18m) if EU2020 targets are to be met. 

This workshop took place on Tuesday 8 October and explored what cities and regions can do to create jobs. It unpicked the main challenges faced and showcased what works and what doesn't, based on evidence and practice from ESPON, INTERACT, INTERREG IVC and URBACT. 

After an introduction presenting the big picture and some common messages from the ETC programmes, project and programme representatives discussed their experience of creating innovative solutions to these complex challenges.

The key conclusion was that a new multi-faceted approach is vital - one that considers people, skills and the economy; that spans the economic, employment and entrepreneurship agendas and that requires a new form of collaborative leadership and governance.

"With Jobs and Growth remaining one of Europe's key challenges, it was really interesting to share some of the experiences of the four European Territorial Cooperation Programmes (URBACT, INTERREG IVC, INTERACT and ESPON) yesterday." said the Programmes’ representatives at the end of the workshop.

WORKSHOP - Innovation brokers delivering Europe 2020: How cities generate change to meet complex urban challenges

Cities are key players in the delivery of Europe 2020 objectives. But how well equipped are they to lead the changes that will deliver smart, green and inclusive urban environments? 

Building on lessons from URBACT, this workshop held on Thursday 10 October shared practical examples of how cities can generate change in the way they design, implement and monitor innovative urban solutions. It was showed how cities can become "innovation brokers" generating new ideas, accessing specialist knowledge, strengthening evidence base, developing new partnerships and co-production processes, going for smart finance, etc. The workshop challenged participants to dynamise their own urban change management strategies. 

Speakers concluded that cities have a new role to play in order to tackle modern challenges. There should be open to change, think and act differently with a long term perspective towards the future. They also need to establish a better governance and collaboration with citizens, private sector and civil society in general. Cities need to be open to outside world, network with other cities across Europe, see what is going on, collect practices and adapt them in local context. 

100 EUrban Solutions Exhibition - A Networking Success!

OPEN DAYS organisers invited URBACT, INTERREG IVC, INTERACT and ESPON to contribute to the good practices exhibition on smart, sustainable and inclusive urban development.

On the evening of 8th October Commissioner Johannes Hahn officially opened the exhibition.

The objective was to illustrate urban solutions based on case studies and transferable good practices. Selected projects, publications and information stands by the four programmes were hosted on the 6th floor of the CoR building.

Participants had the chance to learn more on URBACT project thanks to the interactive map and to network with experts and project partners. They also participated in our URBACT Twitter Campaign "Tag Your Ideal City" as well as in the URBACT Photo Slide Contest organised by Ivan Tosics about EU capitals, famous buildings, urban development ideas, contradictions of urban regeneration, urban transport novelties, social processes. 

Read more:

• OPEN Days - website