In its first two years (2022-2023), DUT established a strong foundation for urban transitions research and innovation. A consortium of 67 partners from 28 countries was formed primarily comprising ministries and national/regional funding agencies. The project successfully operationalized key partnership bodies, finalized legal frameworks including the Grant Agreement and Consortium Agreement, ensuring effective coordination and management mechanisms.
The DUT Roadmap, developed through collaboration, sets a strategic framework for urban transitions, guiding the three Transition Pathways (TPs): Positive Energy Districts (PED), 15-Minute City (15mC), and Circular Urban Economies (CUE). Annual Work Programmes were co-created and approved.
R&I activities advanced significantly, with 48 projects funded under DUT Call 2022 and 42 projects selected under DUT Call 2023, demonstrating strong engagement from urban stakeholders.
Stakeholder engagement remained a priority, with the DUT City Panel involving over 50 municipalities in strategic planning and peer learning. Workshops and conference sessions mobilized stakeholders, while AGORA Dialogues provided platforms for exchange. The Urban Doers Booklet & Community was piloted to empower local initiatives.
DUT also contributed to capacity-building by organizing workshops for civil servants on funding and governance, supporting the Urban Agenda for the EU (UAEU) as an observer, positioning DUT as a knowledge provider, and joining three UA Partnerships (Building Decarbonisation, Cities of Equality, and Greening Cities). DUT provided training on Urban Living Labs during the French EU Council Presidency and participated in joint events with the Swedish EU Presidency.
International cooperation was strengthened through DUT’s role as a co-lead of the Urban Transitions Mission (UTM) under Mission Innovation (MI), contributing to the UTM Action Plan and PED Sprint. DUT also engaged in discussions with the Belmont Forum, reinforcing its commitment to global urban transitions.
