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Category: Strategic Sectors

Strengthening SME Digital Readiness Across Regions: Field notes from the Advanced Cooperation Mission in Santiago 

Santiago, Chile | 21–25 July 2026  How can regions better understand the digital readiness of their SMEs—and turn that knowledge into targeted, measurable support?  That question guided the latest IURC Latin America and the Caribbean Advanced Cooperation Mission, hosted by the Santiago Metropolitan Region as part of the Digital Transformation Community of Practice (CoP 1). Representatives from Bucharest (Romania), Bacău...

Gangtok and Leh Showcase Himalayan Leadership on Climate-Resilient and Sustainable Tourism

The International Urban and Regional Cooperation (IURC) Programme successfully convened the fifth Deep Dive Online Technical Session under the Community of Practice (CoP) 3 – Sustainable Smart Tourism, bringing together partner cities and experts to explore climate resilience, organic ecosystems, and sustainable tourism in the Himalayan region. The session featured presentations from Gangtok (Sikkim) and Leh, highlighting innovative approaches to...

Regeneration, heritage and community: Field notes from the Advanced Cooperation Mission in Santo Domingo   

Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic | 6–8 July 2026   The IURC programme held its Advanced Cooperation Mission in Santo Domingo as part of the Community of Practice on urban regeneration and social cohesion, hosted by the National District City Council. The mission centred on one of the most historically significant urban cores in the Americas — a UNESCO World Heritage Site — to explore how...

Where mobility meets the city: Field notes from the Advanced Cooperation Mission in Fortaleza  

Fortaleza, Brazil | 30 June – 2 July 2026  The IURC programme held its Advanced Cooperation Mission in Fortaleza as part of the Community of Practice on sustainable mobility (CoP 4), bringing together representatives from Madrid (Spain) and Umeå (Sweden) to explore how Fortaleza is weaving mobility, public space, environmental protection and social inclusion into a coherent urban development strategy.  Over three days, participants...

Moving through Madrid: Field notes from the Advanced Cooperation Mission in Madrid 

Madrid, Spain | 23–25 June 2026  The IURC programme held its Advanced Cooperation Mission in Madrid as part of the Community of Practice on sustainable mobility and urban transformation, bringing together representatives from Fortaleza (Brazil) and Umeå (Sweden) to explore how Madrid is rethinking its streets, corridors and transport infrastructure as part of a wider strategy for a more liveable, connected and green city.  Over...

When the border is a bridge: Field notes from the Advanced Cooperation Mission in the Rio Minho territory

Rio Minho (Portugal — Spain) | 29 June – 2 July The IURC programme held its first Advanced Cooperation Mission of the Agri-food Community of Practice (CoP 6) in the Rio Minho territory — a cross-border region straddling the Galicia–North Portugal frontier. Representatives from South Tyrol (Italy), Mendoza (Argentina), Tacna (Peru) and Loreto (Peru) joined the host body, the AECT/EGTC...

Jeonju Showcases Heritage, Night-Time Economy and AI Innovation in IURC Sustainable Smart Tourism Community of Practice

On 30 June 2026, the IURC Communities of Practice (CoP 3): Sustainable Smart Tourism convened its 4th Deep Dive Online Technical Session (DDOTS), hosted by Jeonju, Republic of Korea. The session brought together city representatives and urban experts from across the IURC network to exchange practical experiences on heritage-led tourism, the night-time economy and digital innovation for more sustainable and...

Korean Local Media Highlights Jeonju’s IURC Sustainable Tourism Exchange

Jeonju's presentation highlighting its heritage-led smart tourism strategies at the IURC CoP 3 session has been featured in Korean local media. English Translation Jeonju City and the Jeonju Research Institute held an international online seminar with the European Union (EU) on June 30, sharing Jeonju's flagship tourism policies with partner cities from around the world. The seminar was organized as...

The city after dark in Buenos Aires: Field notes from the Advanced Cooperation Mission

Buenos Aires (Argentina) | 26 – 28 May The IURC programme held its Advanced Cooperation Mission in Buenos Aires as part of the Community of Practice on nighttime economy, bringing together representatives from Braga (Portugal) and Genoa (Italy) as European partners, and Salvador de Bahia (Brazil) from Latin America, hosted by the Government of the City of Buenos Aires. Over...

Exploring smart city platforms in Famalicão: Field notes from the Advanced Cooperation Mission

Famalicão, Portugal | 19 – 21 May The IURC programme held its Advanced Cooperation Mission in Famalicão, bringing together representatives from Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), Guadalajara (Mexico), and Piraeus (Greece) to explore how urban data and smart city platforms can strengthen local governance and support risk management. Over three days, participants explored how Famalicão has built its smart city ecosystem...