The two-day programme started with inspirational speeches from Leeuwarden’s mayor, Sybrand van Haersma Buma, and Sauda’s mayor, Håvard Handeland. The mayors are divided by almost 40 years of age, yet their message remained clear: Europe needs the innovation capacity of small- and medium-sized cities (SMCs) to build a better future.
Walk the walk
It was said that: The challenges of tomorrow must be solved today. The mayors talked the talk. However, they, together with the other participants, also followed up by showcasing how their SMCs foster innovation every single day.
The Innovative SMC event had participants from different sectors who work on solving issues that affect European citizens in their own neighbourhoods. 43 % of Europe’s inhabitants live in SMCs, and after meeting in Brussels, it became clear that cities all across Europe face similar challenges.
– It’s a few fjords and a stop at Schiphol away from the heated streets of Sauda to the
polished floors of Brussels. But despite the distance, we stand in the same landscape of
challenges and opportunities.
-Håvard Handeland
Great Distance, Similar Solutions
Meeting face-to-face, everyday problem solvers got to discuss their needs and exchange ideas, solutions, and best- and worst-practices throughout the two days. It was not only motivating, but also a reality check. SMCs from Northern, Eastern and Western Europe came together to make Europe better place to live.
Synergies could be found everywhere. What do Jena and Kahla from Thuringia have in common with the small industrial city of Sauda in the Stavanger region? The three cities are leading in district heating. Similar solutions for utilising energy in the most efficient way.
Forging new bonds
Nordic Edge, the non-profit Norwegian innovation company, and GrønnBy, an association for and by companies wanting a more sustainable construction industry, were also present at the SMC event. Nordic Edge was a vital part of NEB-STAR, Stavanger’s lighthouse New European Bauhaus project.
The two Stavanger-based organisations hosted a workshop on how to build the communities of tomorrow, bringing together their experiences from both NEB-STAR and the private sector. It turns out that nearly every SMC is in vital need of rethinking how we live.
Groningen is an example of a city that must build tens of thousands of new homes, and renovate thousands of existing ones, all while achieving climate neutrality by 2035. Groningen is not alone, Stavanger and many other European cities are searching for solutions to develop better, greener and more affordable housing.
NEB-STAR is an example of a European project looking at tomorrow’s neighbourhoods.
Hands-on
After much discussion, “workshopping” and problem-solving, it was a welcome break to get some fresh air. The SMC participants visited the Belgian city of Mechelen, situated between Antwerp and Brussels. Mechelen has several EU projects, and it was useful for the participants to see the results of Mechelen’s projects in person.
Two days filled with knowledge sharing, synergies and workshops left the participants full of ideas on to how strengthen their small- and medium-sized cities for the benefit of Europe.