The next generation of green, resilient and socially inclusive smart cities

Project Information

ReGreeneration

Grant agreement ID: 101139636

DOI

10.3030/101139636

EC signature date 15 December 2023

Start date 1 January 2024

End date 31 December 2027

Funded under

• Climate, Energy and Mobility

Total cost

€ 10 819 307,32

EU contribution

€ 9 999 358,63

Coordinated by

INETUM
France

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - ReGreeneration (The next generation of green, resilient and socially inclusive smart cities)

Reporting period: 2024-01-01 to 2025-06-30

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

The ReGreeneration project emerges in response to the urgent need to transform urban environments into more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable spaces, aligning with European strategic objectives regarding climate adaptation, social cohesion, and urban regeneration. In this context, the project articulates a series of pilot interventions in European cities, combining digital tools, participatory methodologies, and nature-based solutions to address local challenges such as environmental degradation, social exclusion, and the lack of quality public spaces. Through an interdisciplinary work structure that integrates social sciences, humanities, technology, and urban planning, ReGreeneration promotes co-creation with citizens, the involvement of local economic stakeholders, and impact assessment through key performance indicators (KPIs). The project's results are expected to generate significant impacts at the local and European scales, both in terms of improving urban well-being and in the formulation of replicable policies, thus contributing to a structural transformation of contemporary urban development models.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

WP1: a secure collaborative platform was established, quality and ethics guidelines were defined, and regular coordination and management meetings were organized with the active participation of all partners.
WP2: a digital twin system was designed and prototyped that integrates urban data and enables the visualization of KPIs for managing interventions in pilot and replicator cities.
WP3: interdisciplinary collaboration and cross-city learning were promoted through workshops, one-on-one meetings, and gap analyses, addressing common challenges such as vegetation selection and community engagement.
WP4: the Bucharest pilot advanced the installation of environmental sensors, the participatory design of public spaces, and educational programs such as EcoAmbassadors, engaging more than 1,200 residents.
WP5: the Alverca pilot defined intervention zones through technical diagnoses and collaborative workshops, and advanced data-driven impact assessment, standardizing KPIs related to climate resilience, accessibility, biodiversity, and social use of space.
WP6: Paris advanced negotiations to reduce the heliport's footprint and transfer the land to the municipality, with the goal of fully revegetating the area and creating a biodiverse and accessible urban ecosystem.
WP7: Barcelona integrated greening interventions into strategic plans such as the SUMP and the Climate Plan, and plans to develop technical guides based on lessons learned.
WP8: Mutual learning between lead and replicating cities was promoted through thematic workshops, meetings, and a conceptual model that allows for simulating replication actions and evaluating results with shared KPIs.
WP9: A preliminary strategy for leveraging results was established, and the project was positioned at various events.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

During the first 18 months of the ReGreeneration project, five Key Exploitable Results (KERs) have been consolidated, representing significant advances in nature-based urban regeneration: (1) an impact analysis framework with indicators to assess climate resilience, biodiversity, and social cohesion; (2) an international guide to good practices; (3) a modular replication package for less mature cities; (4) co-creation methodologies and participatory governance structures; and (5) a digital twin platform to simulate urban scenarios and support spatial decision-making. These results have been developed through collaborative workshops and tools such as the Business Model Canvas and Value Proposition Canvas, and have been aligned with preliminary business models that include consulting, SaaS, licensing, and training services.

The expected impact of the project extends to multiple levels: regeneration of degraded urban areas, improvement of quality of life and social cohesion, integration of green solutions into urban climate plans, and direct contribution to European missions such as the Green Deal, the Climate Neutral Cities Mission, and the Climate Change Adaptation Mission. To ensure the adoption and sustainability of these results, key needs have been identified, such as access to financing for replication, support for intellectual property (IPR), development of favorable regulatory and policy frameworks, internationalization of solutions, and strengthening of strategic alliances with public and private actors.

Working sessions at the Project Management Board meetings

Image of the digital tool where citizens can comment on the interventions

Working sessions at the Project Management Board meetings

Group photo of the project team during the visit to Barcelona

Working sessions at the Project Management Board meetings