Latin America
Asia & Australasia
North America
EU Cities Gateway
China

Category: News from IURC

EU Ambassador Highlights IURC Partnerships on Christchurch Visit

During his recent visit to Christchurch City, the European Union Ambassador to New Zealand, H E Lawrence Meredith, met with Mayor of Christchurch Phil Mauger to discuss the city’s growing cooperation with the European Union and its active participation in the EU-funded IURC Asia and Australasia programme. H E Lawrence Meredith, EU Ambassador to New Zealand, with Mayor of Christchurch...

Coimbra demonstrates how AI-Powered Tourism Takes Centre Stage in Shaping the Future of Smart Destinations

The International Urban and Regional Cooperation (IURC) Programme convened its second Deep Dive Online Technical Session (DDOTS) under Community of Practice 3 (CoP 3) on Sustainable Smart Tourism on 30 April 2026, hosted by Coimbra. Bringing together cities from Europe and Asia, the session focused on smart destination intelligence and artificial intelligence (AI) as key drivers of sustainable tourism development....

CoP 14 Webinar: Cities Showcase Digital Innovation & Climate Governance Solutions

From urban digital twins and climate data platforms to climate budgeting and citizen-centred tools, partner cities explored how data-driven governance can accelerate climate resilience. The International Urban and Regional Cooperation (IURC) Programme successfully launched the first webinar of Community of Practice 14 (CoP 14) on Climate Adaptation, bringing together partner cities and regions from Europe, India and Australasia for a...

Brisbane’s 2032 Host City Legacy Playbook: Turning Olympic Ambition into Lasting City Benefits

During the first CoP 16 Deep Dive Webinar, Brisbane has shared an executive-level look at how legacy planning for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games is being designed to shape the city well beyond 2032, aligning long-term urban outcomes with Games delivery. Hosted by Brisbane City Council, the webinar focused on the realities of dispersed Games venues and growing community...

CoP 15 Knowledge Exchange Webinar: Affordable Housing and Social Cohesion Key Challenges and Best Practices

Representatives from Berlin, Bari, Basque Country, City of Melbourne, Region of Valencia and Singapore recently came together for the first ‘Urban Planning – Affordable Housing and Social Cohesion’ Community of Practice (CoP) knowledge exchange webinar. Through shared experiences, participants highlighted the challenges their cities and regions face, including demographic shifts, private sector involvement, financing, and climate change—and the strategies to...

Leh Hosts Trans-Himalayan Climate Conclave showcasing Global Collaboration through IURC

The Municipal Committee of Leh, in collaboration with key national and international partners, successfully hosted the Trans-Himalayan Urban Climate Conclave on 10–11 April 2026. The event brought together policymakers, experts, and institutions to advance climate-resilient and net-zero pathways for Himalayan cities. The conclave served as an important platform to address the unique challenges faced by high-altitude cities, including water scarcity,...

Reimagining Ecotourism: IURC Webinar Highlights Smart, Sustainable Innovations in Malaysia

The International Urban and Regional Cooperation (IURC) Programme convened a Deep Dive Online Thematic Webinar on March 31st, 2026 under Community of Practice (CoP) 3, focusing on the use of integrated smart technologies to promote sustainable ecotourism in Seberang Perai, Malaysia. The session showcased three innovative pilot actions led by the Seberang Perai City Council: the AutoCity SpiderWeb Ecosystem, an...

EU–Japan Cooperation Enters Intensive Implementation Phase

The EU-funded International Urban and Regional Cooperation (IURC) programme has entered an intensive implementation phase in 2026, further strengthening city-to-city and region-to-region cooperation between the European Union and partner countries. Cooperation is structured through Communities of Practice (CoPs)—thematic platforms coordinated by leading EU regions or cities—which bring together public authorities, industry, research organisations, and universities under a quadruple-helix approach. Each...

From Slovenia to New Zealand: Cultivating Global Innovation in Agri-Food

Can international collaboration solve the future of food? On March 12, 2026, a significant step was taken toward answering that question. Facilitated by the EU International Urban and Regional Cooperation (IURC) programme, an online Academic Exchange Workshop brought together the Regional Development Agency of the Ljubljana Urban Region (RRA LUR) and Massey University in New Zealand. The goal? To bridge the gap between Europe and the Pacific...

Bridging Kyoto and Ljubljana: A New Era of Academic Collaboration between KIT and UL

The partnership between the University of Ljubljana (UL) in Slovenia and Kyoto Institute of Technology (KIT) in Japan is reaching exciting new heights. As active participants in the International Urban and Regional Cooperation (IURC) program, both regions are collaborating within the Community of Practice for Agriculture and Innovation. Throughout February and March 2026, a series of strategic meetings and faculty visits have laid the groundwork for expanded...