Nudging and citizen participation for sustainable lifestyles. Easier ways to travel environmentally friendly in the service. Cultivation systems in industrial areas. These are examples of the issues focused on in projects that have now been granted funding under the Viable Cities program, which is coordinated by KTH.
- "We are very pleased with the portfolio of projects we now have in the program. Among the projects that have received funding are many that I believe will be able to make a big difference in the transition to resource-efficient and climate-smart cities," says program manager Olga Kordas, who is also a researcher at KTH Royal Institute of Technology. Of the 50 projects that applied for funding in the first call within Viable Cities, 20 were granted funding, a total of almost 29 million. The participating organizations contribute an equal amount in co-financing. Viable Cities is a twelve-year program for research and innovation that will contribute to the transition to climate- and resource-efficient cities.
- The projects reflect well the programme's holistic approach to sustainable urban development with strong elements of citizen engagement and digitalization as an enabler, says Olga Kordas. I am also impressed by the breadth of the actors involved in the projects, from large cities, universities and companies to ecovillages and churches, she adds.Viable Cities is a joint initiative between the Swedish Energy Agency, Vinnova and Formas. The funding is channeled through the Swedish Energy Agency and the program is coordinated by KTH Royal Institute of Technology.- There were several interesting and innovative project proposals that have succeeded in capturing the holistic perspective and complexity needed to transition to a sustainable climate and energy system, says Emina Pasic from the Swedish Energy Agency.
The following are examples of the approved projects:
Sustainable urban lifestyles through nudging and citizen participation The project explores how urban planning can promote sustainable urban lifestyles. The focus is on knowledge about citizen participation and nudging as strategies to promote a more sustainable everyday life. Read more here.
MERiT: Environmentally friendly and easy travel in the service A pilot project is being conducted with a digital platform for combined mobility (mobility as a service) in three districts within the city of Gothenburg, with about 10,000 employees. The aim is to evaluate how such services can provide more sustainable travel, be attractive to users, and easy to administer. Read more here.
Digitally controlled cultivation systems in urban industrial areas In the project, the City of Stockholm and partners will carry out pilot installations of innovative cultivation systems for fruit and vegetables in the city's industrial areas. These growing systems are expected to provide positive environmental effects and potential for civic engagement as well as new job opportunities for new arrivals. Read more here.
Mo-Bo - Architecture for sustainable mobility Mo-Bo is a housing concept with mobility services that solves residents' transportation in a socially, economically and ecologically sustainable way. Sharing economy and mobility services pave the way for innovative architecture where more people and goods can be transported by fewer vehicles, which means smarter use of resources and space. Read more here.
Klimatkampen Uppsala Klimatkampen aims to accelerate the climate transition and facilitate more sustainable choices in everyday life for Uppsala residents. In various ways, the project will engage and inform Uppsala residents about how they can reduce their climate impact. Read more here.
About Viable Cities
Viable Cities is a 12-year program focused on innovation for smart and sustainable cities. It is one of 17 strategic innovation programs that have received support within the framework of Strategic Innovation Areas, a joint initiative between Vinnova, the Swedish Energy Agency and Formas. The purpose of the initiative is to create conditions for Sweden's international competitiveness and sustainable solutions to global societal challenges. Viable Cities is coordinated by KTH.
For more information, please contact
Program Manager Olga Kordas on 070-213 23 26 or olga.kordas@viablecities.com
Officer Emina Pasic on or 016-544 21 89 emina.pasic@energimyndigheten.se
Communication strategist Åsa Minoz on 072 - 210 88 26 or asa.minoz@viablecities.com.
