Driving Urban Transitions (DUT), which formally started in January 2022, is a collaboration between Vinnova, Formas, the Swedish Energy Agency and Viable Cities with other European partners. DUT builds on the work of JPI Urban Europe and the program aims to further strengthen the drive towards sustainable cities.
On June 20-21, 2023, it was finally time for just over 60 partners to finally meet in Vienna to kick off the collaboration within Driving Urban Transitions, which formally started in January 2022. In DUT, Vinnova, Formas, the Swedish Energy Agency and Viable Cities collaborate with other European partners. DUT builds on the work of JPI Urban Europe and the program aims to further strengthen the pursuit of sustainable cities. Three thematic areas are in focus in the program; Positive Energy Districts, 15 minutes cities and Circular Urban Economies. For Viable Cities, it is important to contribute to the development of applicable research and innovation that supports and strengthens the work of both Swedish and European actors for climate-neutral cities in 2030.
The main tools of the Partnership Program are calls for proposals where researchers and other stakeholders can apply for funding. With a budget of around €80 million, the first call for proposals will open this autumn (see calendar) and over the next seven years the program will intensify European work on urban challenges and enable government agencies, researchers, municipalities, businesses and citizens to translate global strategies into local initiatives. European cities have expressed interest in participating in the City Panels that are being set up, and they are an important link to the practitioners who can best describe the challenges facing cities and communities.
Viable Cities participates in several parts of the partnership; especially in the thematic area PED - Positive Energy Districts, and in the area Valorization and mainstreaming; to strengthen the accessibility and usability of the research and innovation that is done. In order to coordinate and clarify the Swedish needs and interests, Viable Cities also collaborates with the Swedish research funding agencies that are part of the partnership: the Swedish Energy Agency, Vinnova and Formas.
You can find all relevant information on the website of the DUT, both on the collaborations and the consortium, and on the different calls for proposals.
