Author: indy

IURC AA Cities Take a Deep Dive into Circular Economy Waste and Water Solutions

On 2 October 2025, the International Urban and Regional Cooperation (IURC) Asia & Australasia programme held its first Deep Dive Session on Circular Economy (Cluster 4), focusing on waste and water management strategies. The event brought together 50 participants from Europe and Asia and showcased how cities are pioneering new approaches to transform waste into resources and wastewater into energy, while strengthening international cooperation. Setting...

IURC2 Kicks Off in Japan: Advancing EU–Japan Sustainable Urban and Regional Cooperation

The IURC Japan Kick-off took place in a hybrid format on 2 October 2025 as part of the Kyoto Smart City Expo 2025, co-hosted by Kyoto Prefecture. The session marked the formal launch of the International Urban and Regional Cooperation Programme (IURC) Phase II in Japan, bringing together European and Japanese representatives to deepen city and regional collaboration across thematic clusters such as urban innovation, industrial...

IURC AA Launches Circular Economy Cluster with Global Introductory Webinar

On 1 October 2025, the International Urban and Regional Cooperation (IURC) Asia & Australasia programme launched its Circular Economy Thematic Cluster (Cluster 4) with an introductory webinar attended by 59 participants from 17 cities in 10 countries. The session marked the beginning of a global exchange on how cities can rethink waste, food systems, and resource use while piloting innovative solutions to accelerate the...

IURC LAC Thematic Cluster Session Advances Regional Cooperation

On 1 October 2025, the International Urban and Regional Cooperation (IURC) Latin America & Caribbean programme hosted its third session of the Regional Thematic Cluster series, gathering 41 participants from more than 30 regions. The meeting focused on fostering regional partnerships in areas such as clean energy, blue economy, industrial modernisation, and agri-food, and served as a stepping stone toward the development of Regional Cooperation...

IURC Asia & Australasia Regions Advance Cooperation on Clean Energy and Blue Economy

1 October 2025 – Online session The International Urban and Regional Cooperation (IURC) Asia & Australasia Thematic Network hosted its third Region-to-Region Cooperation on Innovation webinar on Clean Energy and Blue Economy, bringing together 44 representatives from regional governments, research institutions, and development agencies across Europe and Asia. The event highlighted the growing momentum for cross-continental collaboration on hydrogen technology, renewable energy, industrial modernisation, and just transition strategies—key...

IURC LAC Webinar Showcases Urban Innovation in Mobility and Transport

The International Urban and Regional Cooperation (IURC) Latin America programme held its fourth thematic webinar on 30 September 2025, bringing together city representatives from Europe and Latin America to exchange best practices in sustainable urban mobility and transport. The session attracted over 20 registrants and featured presentations from Madrid (Spain), Umeå (Sweden), Fortaleza (Brazil), Concepción (Chile), and Mérida (Mexico). Building Transatlantic Partnerships for...

IURC LAC Webinar Explores Urban Regeneration and Social Cohesion

On 30 September 2025, the International Urban and Regional Cooperation (IURC) Latin America programme held its fifth thematic webinar, bringing together city leaders and experts to discuss strategies for urban regeneration and social cohesion. The event attracted close to 30 registrants and featured presentations from Buenos Aires (Argentina), Famalicão (Portugal), Salvador da Bahia (Brazil), and Barcelona (Spain). Framing the Debate: Urban Regeneration in...

Final Deep Dive Discussion on Global Urban Innovation in EU and Asian Cities

The International Urban and Regional Cooperation (IURC) Asia & Australasia programme concluded its Urban Innovation Deep Dive Webinar Series with a forward-looking session on start-ups, investments, and technologies. The event gathered 65 participants and highlighted six cities—Grenoble-Alpes, Warsaw, Leuven, Tallinn, Nagoya, and Kaohsiung—each presenting their unique strategies for fostering resilient and innovative urban economies. Grenoble-Alpes – Boosting Entrepreneurship Amélie Dupraz-Canard introduced the iVenture programme,...

IURC AA – Deep Dive on Urban Innovation

The International Urban and Regional Cooperation (IURC) Asia & Australasia Programme convened its deep dive session 1 on Urban Innovation, bringing together thought leaders and city representatives from Christchurch (New Zealand), Bologna (Italy), Cork (Ireland), and Jeonju (Korea) to spotlight how diverse urban ecosystems are advancing innovation for sustainable growth. Against the backdrop of IURC Phase II, the session provided...

IURC AA Cities Exchange Insights on Digital Transition and Data Utilisation

The International Urban and Regional Cooperation Programme (IURC) Asia & Australasia hosted its second Urban Innovation Deep Dive Session, focusing on Cities & Data. The event brought together experts from Barcelona, Coimbra, Osaka, Kobe, and Pimpri Chinchwad, highlighting how cities across Europe and Asia are leveraging GIS, BIM, AI, and smart city strategies to drive digital transition. Barcelona: Digital Twins and Urban Data...