UIA Knowledge Lab

Super Circular Estate Project, Journal no. 5, Municipality of Kerkrade

Super Circular Estate (SCE) Project illustrated potential of reactivation of resources within existing built environments and helped us understand bet...

Kerkrade Zoom-in 3: The monitoring process and its results

UIA Expert Elma Durmisevic interviews Michiel Ritzen from ZUYD University on the monitoring process of the Super Circular Estate project and its resul...

SCE Journal 4: State of the art construction of three circular houses

UIA Expert Elma Durmisevic explains how the “three new houses have been constructed by reusing more than 90% of materials from the existing building a...

Super Circular Estate Journal 3: Kerkrade’s challenges

UIA Expert Elma Durmisevic tells us how “the SCE consortium is already finalising the construction phase of the three new houses made of reused materi...

Super Circular Estate Zoom-in 2: How BRX could support reuse of building materials

One of the lessons learned from Kerkrade’s project “regarding future buildings, is that reuse potential of building products need to be embodied into ...

Super Circular Estate Journal 1: Get to know the project’s first steps

The UIA Expert unveils Kerkrade’s initial achievements in the first journal....

Super Circular Estate Zoom-in 1: Circular versus conventional building process

UIA Expert Elma Durmisevic zooms into the differences between circular and conventional building process through interviews with the key members of th...

Super Circular Estate Journal 2: Next steps

Take a look at the latest developments around Kerkrade’s project. ...

Rethink your monitoring and evaluation practices

You want to capture the change that your project is bringing at local level? The new monitoring and evaluation platform is now online: browse through ...

U-RLP Journal 6: One year later

UIA Expert Daniel de Torres reflects on main takeaways from the project one year after its closure: “Thanks to the lessons learned, the project's appr...

A look at Plan Einstein through the intercultural lens

This third and final zoom-in on the Plan Einstein project aims to provide a view of the project from the perspective of the intercultural approach. Al...

U-RLP Journal 5: The project comes to an end

UIA Expert Daniel de Torres explains how “The final months of the project have focused on completing the actions and outputs foreseen in the work plan...

U-RLP Journal 1: Hear from the project’s UIA Expert how it is implementing its bold solution

Get to know better what Utrecht is doing on the integration of migrants and refugees in this UIA Expert journal....

How to manage the centre and the neighbour's participation - an update in U-RLP's journal 2

UIA Expert Dani de Torres has been collecting the knowledge stemming from the implementation of the innovative solution proposed by the City of Utrech...

U-RLP Zoom-In: Video looks at creation of the coffee of the world

UIA Expert Daniel de Torres highlights in this video the steps taken to create the project’s coffee of the world....

Read U-RLP's 3rd project journal!

The decision of the Dutch national agency for reception of asylum seekers (COA) to anticipate the closure of Plan Einstein and the transfer of asylum ...

U-RLP Journal 4 and the challenge of creating meeting spaces for residents and neighbours

UIA Expert Daniel de Torres shares the latest insights....

U-RLP Zoom-in 2: Plan Einstein’s Narrative

Is the Plan Einstein (U-RLP) project contributing to the creation of a new narrative on the reception of refugees?...

BRIDGE Expert Journal 6: Get an update on what has been happening in the last 6 months

In his 6th journal of BRIDGE, UIA expert Eddy Adams looks into the lessons generated by the project – the ones that are left behind for other cities. ...

A Word Amongst Friends

The pandemic and its aftermath have major consequences for international work. City authorities, and those working with them, need to adapt and develo...

UIA cities Rotterdam and Madrid exchanged ideas and experience

Rotterdam and Madrid are developing innovative jobs and skills solutions through Urban Innovative Actions. Both address the challenge of raising skill...

UIA projects contributing to inclusive and smart growth: Report reflecting experiences and first lessons now available

Read the final report with conclusions from the jobs and skills in the local economy capitalisation activities...

BRIDGE Journal - the future legacy of the project

In his 4th journal of BRIDGE, UIA expert Eddy Adams looks into the future legacy of the project. To name but a few, the high-level Work Learning Agree...

BRIDGE Journal 1: Hear from the project’s UIA Expert how it is implementing its bold solution

Get to know better what Rotterdam is doing on jobs and skills in this UIA Expert journal. ...

Implementing the BRIDGE project in Rotterdam: Get an update in the second UIA journal on what is happening on the ground

UIA Expert Eddy Adams has been collecting the knowledge stemming from the implementation of the innovative solution proposed by the City of Rotterdam ...

BRIDGE Zoom-In: Video reflects conflict between school culture vs. street culture

UIA Expert Eddy Adams highlights in this video animation the main elements of the BRIDGE project set in Rotterdam-South. ...

BRIDGE Expert Journal: Get an update on what has been happening in the last 6 months

Read about the progress with a specific focus on monitoring and evaluation...

T-reporters around Europe

How to empower young residents - interview with Paul Cornelissen

I asked Paul Cornelissen, thematic project manager of ForwArt about his vision on youth empowerment and how is he turning it into reality within proje...

ForwArt activities in a week - photo essay

The occassion of the UIA officer Isabella Schneble's visit to Tilburg North provided an opportunity to have a glimpse into the artistic activities wit...

Which artistic expression deserves public match-funding and who can decide on it?

Engaged art in Europe

"Arts and culture deserve a similar acknowledgement of their relation to sustainable development as sport, as they have been proven to have social imp...

Youth participation in action

"A generation apart" - this frequent term makes us aware that youth participation is not an easy task to perform since those youngsters are at least a...

The quays are prepared for nature to take over - Journal 4

Breda's GreenQuays project served as a pioneering initiative to infuse more nature into the densely built medieval city centre by revitalising the riv...

Green Quays from a citizen perspective

Green Quays offers valuable lessons for harmonising urban developments with the desires and needs of their citizens. It has been a radically innovativ...

"You have to take risks to advance - also as a politician."

It is done! September 2023 – the GreenQuays have been built. In the middle of Breda, a new stretch of the river Mark has been uncovered and a new type...

The GreenQuays project on its last mile - Journal 3

The third Journal of GreenQuays explores how the project continues to deal with seven general implementation challenges of innovative project as well ...

Volunteers play an important role in GreenQuays’ biodiversity monitoring

The main innovative feature of the GreenQuays in Breda is to build them nature-inclusive. For achieving this, the construction will lay the foundation...

Bringing to life Breda’s nature-inclusive quays

This Zoom in 2 looks into the experience, challenges and lessons learned with developing the multifunctional design and the implementation. Can it be ...

Ideas from the GreenQuays project start stretching beyond the initial plans

While most of the innovative tasks of planning the quays and testing different technical solutions have finished, GreenQuays is still running with the...

Finally digging of the GreenQuays starts

After 2,5 years of preparation the construction of the GreenQuays has started end of June 2022. A first stretch of the covered river Mark in Breda‘s c...

City safari and Map of opportunities – testing new co-creation forms in Breda

Breda is on the way to re-open its first pilot section of the broader river Mark projects, in which the city will bring back the old river Mark in the...

Making Breda’s nature-inclusive quays also climate-responsive

GreenQuays will be a first stretch of the reopened River Mark project in the city centre. The project will enable nature to take the space despite t...

GreenQuays Journal 2: Progress on tackling the major implementation challenges

The second Journal of GreenQuays explores how the project continues to deal with the seven major implementation challenges of innovative projects....

Making trees and wall plants thrive at steep quay walls

Building nature-inclusive quays is the task of the GreenQuays project and, at the same time, its challenge. How can nature be offered space in a dense...

Finding the right design for nature-inclusive quays

The mindset on designing and using public urban space has changed in Breda in the 1990’s. Earlier, the city had decided to cover completely the origin...

The brickwork story behind GreenQuays

Nature-Inclusive Quays (NIQ) are the core of innovative solutions of the GreenQuays project in Breda. The vertical quay walls of the reopened river Ma...

GreenQuays Journal 1: the seven major implementation challenges

The first Journal of GreenQuays explores how the project deals with seven major implementation challenges of innovative projects....

An innovative partnership for innovative GreenQuays in Breda

Coming to the GreenQuays project team in Breda for the first time in June 2020, I have been hooked by the creative design of the planned nature-inclus...

Enabling nature to take over – green quay walls in Breda

Breda is a lovely city. The dense middle-age centre has many small streets and places to stroll around. This density does, however, leave only little ...

WESH Project Capitalisation II: Pitfalls & Prospects

We are looking back on the lessons for European cities that emerged from We.Service.Heerlen (WESH)....

We.Service.Heerlen (WESH): Journal 4

WESH Journal no. 4 is the final journal of the We.Service.Heerlen project. This journal describes the reflection and legacy of the project, as well as...

WESH: Highlights & Achievements

For the capitalisation of WESH we are looking back on the project in three key ways; firstly on the highlights and achievements of the project....

WESH Zoom-In 2: Participatory approach explained

We are zooming in on the participatory approach during the preparation, implementation and continuation of We.Service.Heerlen (WESH) as well as the ch...

WESH: How social innovation improves participation and cohesion

We have interviewed social innovator Anton ten Westenend, involved in neighbourhood association GMS and partner of We.Service.Heerlen (WESH)....

We.Service.Heerlen (WESH): Journal 3

WESH Journal no. 3 describes the progress of the We.Service.Heerlen project as of October 2022. That means WESH is in the final stage of the project p...

WESH: Heerlens Heitje awarded the best EU solution in global Smart Cities contest

During the annual IEEE Smart Cities conference in Cyprus, We.Service.Heerlen (WESH) was awarded as the best EU solution in the global Smart Cities con...

WESH: Developing the right tools to engage the community

We have interviewed Mr Grégoire Piette, Co-Founder of the startup CoTown and the technical supplier of We.Service.Heerlen (WESH)....

WESH: looking for ways to further engage and continue

We have interviewed Mr Pieter Bonnema, Senior Project Manager at the Municipality of Heerlen and Project Coordinator of We.Service.Heerlen (WESH)....

WESH Zoom-In 1: In-depth explanation of the tax challenges

We are zooming in on the various tax challenges that arose in the build-up to the launch of We.Service.Heerlen (WESH) and during the implementation of...

WESH: letting the numbers speak for themselves

We have interviewed Professor Hans Schmeets and Mr Tim Muller, both employed at Statistics Netherlands in Heerlen and partners of the We.Service.Heerl...

We.Service.Heerlen (WESH): Journal 2

WESH Journal no. 2 describes the progress of the We.Service.Heerlen project as of October 2021. That means WESH is halfway the three years project per...

WESH: a perfect showcase for the new Public Services Lab

We have interviewed Mr Ivar Moberts, Business & Community Developer at Brightlands Smart Service Campus in Heerlen and partner of the We.Service.Heerl...

WESH: relying on the ‘wisdom of the crowd’ in managing the city

We have interviewed Mr Kurt Isik, Innovation Advisor at the Association of Dutch Municipalities (VNG) and partner in the We.Service.Heerlen project....

WESH: our solution is working trust-based and making it happen

We have interviewed Ms Robine Gielkens, Junior Project Manager at the Municipality of Heerlen and member of the We.Service.Heerlen (WESH) project team...

We.Service.Heerlen (WESH): Journal 1

WESH Journal no. 1 describes the city of Heerlen in the Netherlands, a former mining city that has been struggling with substantial socio-economic dis...

WESH: How Heerlen’s citizens bob-a-job in a digital age

For decades, the city of Heerlen, a former mining centre in the Southeast of the Netherlands, is struggling with substantial socio-economic disadvanta...

Passport for Work Zoom-in: soft skills to sustain employability

In his 1st zoom-in, P4W expert Ronald Lievens, explores why soft skills are a key part of the Passport4Work project. Especially in these times, with c...

Passport for Work's Legacy: Journal 4

Passport for Work's fourth and final journal, reflecting on its legacy and its activities after the formal project period....

Passport for Work: first results of the impact study & invitation to final event

Passport for Work supports refugee integration into the labour market

Passport for Work’s scientific impact study kicks off

Ever since the Passport for Work project started, it has been a key objective to support its social innovation process with a scientific impact analys...

Major milestone for P4W: national skills survey complete

In October 2020, Passport4Work started an ambitious national research endeavour: replicating the survey of the leading skills taxonomy O*NET in the Du...

Passport4Work expands target group: focus groups with University students

Striving for an inclusive labour market instrument, Passport4Work organized 2 focus group sessions with University students to establish its utility b...

Passport4Work Journal 3

Passport4Work is nearing the product delivery phase. Learn more about the state of play of the project and its contributions to a skills-based economy...

Passport4Work launches employer prototype at HR Live

Passport4Work reached a major milestone in its project, by recently finishing the first prototype of the employer interface of the tool. This prototyp...

P4W Journal 2: A phase of intensive technical development and prototyping!

In his 2nd journal, UIA Expert Ronald Lievens reflects on the current state of affairs in the Passport4Work (P4W) project, its developments, and the d...

Passport4Work completes series of tests of first prototype (video)

After a series of sophisticated user experience tests, Passport4Work launched its first prototype this month. ...

Passport4Work starts ambitious Dutch validation of US-based O*NET framework

Passport4Work has started a widespread, ambitious national study among Dutch employers, job seekers and intermediaries to contextualize and validate t...

Passport4Work: Towards a common understanding of skills

Passport4Work update: abstract skills in layman's terms

As described in the previous web article, P4W is developing tools for skills assessment, eLearnings and job matching....

RESILIO smart Blue-Green roofs: looking into the future

RESILIO was completed in April 2022 and the developed roofs are flourishing. A year and a half later, we explore the legacy the project left behind fo...

Zoom-In article: Are smart blue-green roofs climate-proof themselves?

While RESILIO roofs contribute to climate adaptation (heat, flooding, biodiversity), we need to be sure that the green infrastructure is drought proof...

Journal 3 – Completing and delivering the RESILIO smart blue-green roofs

Finalised roof of the Premselahuis Innovation Lab, used to test alternative design options and evaluate their efficiency. ...

Are Amsterdam’s blue-green roofs good value-for-money for the city? Applying a Total Economic Value framework to urban Nature-based Solutions

Assessing the hydraulic performance of Blue-Green Infrastructure: the case study of Amsterdam's adaptive smart network blue-green roofs

A stepped process to evaluate the true potential of adaptive-blue green roofs for reducing flood risk ...

Engaging citizens in the development of multi-purpose Nature Based Solutions: how the RESILIO blue-green roofs project connects with communities

Why, how and when to engage citizens in the development of NBS? what are the challenges of engagement to be aware off?...

RESILIO's Journal #2: From planning to development

This is the 2nd Journal article describing progress of the RESILIO activities and associated implementation challenges. The purpose is to provide a nu...

Blue-Green roofs as accessible space in a 1.5-meter distance world?

Photo of the De Boel smart blue-green roof at Amsterdam Zuid (photo credits: De Dakdokters)...

RESILIO Journal: developing a network of innovative and smart rooftops in the city of Amsterdam

Through an analysis and contextualization of the 7 implementation challenges, UIA expert Leon Kapetas presents the RESILIO project, which aims to deve...

Smart Blue-Green Roofs of Amsterdam: Why you should be interested and how to get involved in the RESILIO project

RESILIO is the new Climate Adaptation project that takes place in Amsterdam and will install 10,000 m2 of Blue-Green Roofs on social housing complexes...

AirQon Final Journal

Events before and after AIRQON; how well they work? The case of Breda Barst

The AirQon solution is fundamentally based on community participation. It is a crowdsourced powering solution for events. Therefore, engagement is the...

AirQon Journal 2022: get an update about Breda's AirQon Project

AirQon Zoom-in 3: The challenge of powering greener events

Breda Barst is an extraordinary example of innovative spirit, sustainable commitment, and collaborative approach. Just as AirQon is! But, why is Breda...

Sprinting towards zero emission!

In 2019 everything was ready for La Vuelta to depart from the Netherlands for the 2020 edition, and with this, it was planned to pass through Breda. W...

A greener solution is a must! The influence of diesel generators on air pollution

Diesel generators are the main source of environmental pollution in events. In fact, mitigating their effects is the raison d'être of the AIRQON proje...

Counting cars for powering with AIRQON; how many do I need?

An event organizer may have heard about AIRQON but, what about taking a step forward and considering using it? AIRQON, apart from being a sustainable ...

AirQon Zoom-in 2: The challenge of addressing a community

The objective of this Zoom-in 2 is to delve into the role that the community plays in AIRQON as a crowd powered solution. This is not performed from a...

From well-to-wheel, to EV-to-event

AIRQON: A new paradigm in improving local air quality...

AirQon, Breda: Win a sustainable EV taxi drive!

One of the best practices done in this way is the organization of a social media giveaway with the aim of attracting the attention of target groups to...

Building a community. A survey on EV drivers about AirQon

A crowd-powered energy solution like AIRQON is inextricably linked to the community. It does not matter how sophisticated it may be technically. If th...

Plug it in! Powering much more than events with AirQon

The AirQon solution is a versatile powering option for eventual energy demands, with a first class set of potential applications. This means that AirQ...

AirQon Journal 2: Events and More

In this Journal, UIA Expert Javier Leiva reveals that “AIRQON is facing a short future conditioned by getting back to normality. Meanwhile, the activi...

AirQon Zoom-in 1: Not only for mobility purposes– towards the car as a service

The purpose of my first visit to the city of Breda was to learn firsthand about the AIRQON project. Anyone may think that a technology-based project l...

Cars with a battery, or batteries on wheels?

Diving into technical details of AIRQON solution...

Ready… Set… Go!

How is a typical event with AIRQON in Breda?...

AIRQON Journal 1: First challenges

UIA Expert Javier Leiva reveals how the Breda project addresses the first implementation challenges: “One of the key aspects being addressed is the pa...

From URBACT to UIA: the second article focusing on Rotterdam now available

After the testimoy of Turin, read the story from the city of Rotterdam, one of the three urban authorities that have built upon their experiences in U...

Zoom-in 3: Elevating youth participation in North Tilburg

A Commitment to Youth Empowerment. A dedicated team of young individuals is making a difference through the Noordvoerders platform. Bridgebuilders bet...

Zoom-in 2: How to win the hearts of youth

Join me as we delve into the impact of art interventions, hear inspiring stories from artists and young people as we discuss how art can be a catalyst...

Zoom-in 1: Engaging women in a masculine neighbourhood

Discussion about how the gender perspective became important in ForwArt project and how to give space to women in a neighbourhood renewal process....

GreenQuays Zoom-in 1: Making Breda’s nature-inclusive quays health-inclusive

The GreenQuays project in Breda aims to develop and establish nature-inclusive quays. Although it was not in focus when developing the project, this Z...

WESH: video explaining how ‘Heerlens Heitje’ works

To explain how We.Service.Heerlen (WESH) actually stimulates civic participation in the city of Heerlen, we have produced a documentary-style video in...

Passport for Work Zoom-in: Skills based matching

In the second Passport for Work zoom-in, the implications of skills based matching are explored among employers. We visited employers in three differe...

Passport for Work Zoom-in: The Skill Based Economy

The Dutch labour market is facing unprecedented shortages, calling for a skill based economy in which skill based matching, reskilling and upskilling ...