"SRIA 2.0" >> A strategic agenda to align European R&D with global urban challenges

The Joint Programming Initiative (JPI) Urban Europe was presenting its updated Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda.

The agenda will guide the activities and research priorities in the programme until 2026. The launching took place during the policy conference “Urban Transitioning – A Joint Adventure” (12 February 2019) at the Committee of the Regions in Brussels.

Margit Noll (left; FFG/Chair of the Management Board JPI Urban Europe) at JPI Urban Europe policy conference.

To enhance urban transformation capacities and expertise, JPI Urban Europe has taken a challenge-driven approach and identified a need to foreground dilemmas in four transition areas in their updated SRIA.

JPI Urban Europe wants to strengthen research and innovation that addresses the actual challenges faced by cities. As these challenges often occur in the shape of a dilemma or trade-off created by different targets, strategies or interests, this is where innovation is needed, says Mari Solerød, Acting Chair of JPI Urban Europe’s Governing Board.

In 2015, JPI Urban Europe published its Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA), Transitions towards sustainable and liveable urban futures. Although its main intention and focus to drive urban transitions are still valid, an increasing number of research results and transdisciplinary learning outcomes have become available. New urban-related European and global policies, in particular the SDGs and the New Urban Agenda of UN Habitat have been launched and more urban strategies and programmes are currently under development.

All this reinforces the policy context for urban R&I, urging us to update our Strategic Research and innovation Agenda. There is agreement among all partners that the next development phase of JPI Urban Europe must focus on activities that create impact in our cities and thus amplify the cooperation of researchers with cities and urban stakeholders, says Margit Noll, Head of JPI Urban Europe's Management Board.

The strategic priorities of the SRIA 2.0 were identified in a comprehensive process with broad involvement of urban actors, researchers and policy makers and center around the following core dilemmas:

• Digital Transitions in Urban Governance: How can cities exploit the potential of rapid digitalisation for urban planning and governance while avoiding the risks of new inequalities and addressing the consequences for jobs, value chains and privacy?
• From Resilience to Urban Robustness: How can cities get prepared for unexpected, non-linear events and at the same time ensure highest liveability for its inhabitants?
• Sustainable Land-Use and Urban Infrastructure: How can cities answer the demand for densification and infrastructure provision under the constraints of scare resources, financial limitations, accessibility and affordability for all?
• Inclusive Public Spaces for Urban Liveability: How can cities provide multi-functional public spaces that serve the purposes of all groups of society within the given ownership situations, stakeholder interests, security concerns or densification needs?