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Support to JPI Urban Europe

 

Proposals should contribute to achieving an increased participation of countries and actors from the Widening countries in the JPI Urban Europe[[http://jpi-urbaneurope.eu/]]. The proposals should also build on the coordination action ‘BOOST – Cooperation in Urban Science, Technology and Policy’ in support to the JPI Urban Europe that is expected to result in a Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA) and in a related Implementation Plan[[The Implementation Plan is expected to apply effective and efficient methods of collaboration such as those proposed by the 'Voluntary guidelines on Framework Conditions', adopted by the High Level Group on Joint Programming (GPC).]]. Proposals should focus on actions enabling the JPI members to carry out activities foreseen in the Implementation Plan, for instance, by favouring the alignment of these activities to the SRIA. Moreover, proposals should support alignment of national research as well as enable evidence-bas

The importance of urban areas in contributing to economic growth and innovation as well as in tackling social and environmental challenges is recognised by European policy agendas and beyond. Strong evidence exists that the largest urban areas are developing into 'global cities as knowledge hubs' that function in the worldwide networks of economic activities and innovation, communication as well as mobility and attract human capital. However, city regions in the Widening countries are facing specific challenges. For instance, the processes of severe regional polarisation and population shrinkage are hindering the development of many city regions into knowledge hubs in these countries. At the same time, there are huge possibilities of improvement for the Widening countries based on active collaboration with innovative urban regions of higher performing countries. Also other global megatrends such as demographic and climate change will have more severe negative impacts on urban regions in the Widening countr

  • Increased country participation of the JPI Urban Europe from the Widening countries by relationship building with actors, and by ensuring that the SRIA properly addresses the specific priorities and needs of these countries.
  • Improved overall uptake of the SRIA in national programmes and activities through alignment.
  • Contribution to the development of specific instruments for the SRIA implementation such as urban observatories or data warehouses, and involving actors from the Widening countries in these developments.
  • Improved professionalization of the programme management including knowledge exchange, capitalization of generated knowledge as well as implementation of new innovative solutions and concepts.
  • Enhanced positioning of the JPI Urban Europe in terms of research approach, research areas and instruments in the context of existing national and European activities and beyond including the outreach to cities, city networks and other urban actors.