The conference session, titled “Future-Proofing Cities: Sustainable Innovations for Liveable Urban Spaces,” took place on 5 November and was coordinated byTh!nk E, with the support of the ASCEND, NEUTRALPATH, oPEN Lab, ARV – Climate Positive Circular Communities, IURC and RESPONSE projects.
Moderated by Veronika Cerna of Twenty, ASCEND and Scalable Cities, the panel featured contributions from Maarten De Groote (VITO, oPEN Lab), Gilles Charles (Dijon Metropole, RESPONSE), Marta Epelde Merino (BUILD:INN Basque Construction Cluster, IURC), Philippe Fournand (Blue-Sight, ASCEND), Cecilia Sanz (CARTIF, NEUTRALPATH) and Amin Haddadi (OsloBygg, ARV).
The discussion highlighted the importance of understanding urban resilience as a multi-dimensional challenge. Speakers agreed that the technical, financial, and social dimensions must be addressed together, rather than tackled in isolation. Several panellists emphasised that resilience starts with people, particularly those in vulnerable situations, underscoring the crucial roles of safety, inclusion and psychological wellbeing in shaping the cities of the future.
Adaptability emerged as a defining principle for resilient urban development. Designing buildings and infrastructure for flexibility and long lifespans was presented as essential to reducing CO₂ emissions and enabling cities to respond effectively to changing needs. The panel also pointed to financial viability as a central enabler of scalability, noting that sustainable innovations must remain affordable, especially for SMEs and low-income households.
Speakers emphasised that citizen awareness and education are essential for ensuring that new technologies are utilised effectively. Behavioural change, social engagement and a deeper public understanding of urban systems are vital for meaningful and lasting impact. This aligns with the need for strong governance: leadership, commitment and coordination across municipal departments were cited as prerequisites for expanding successful solutions beyond isolated pilot projects.
As cities increasingly adopt digital twins, AI tools and data management platforms, digital resilience is becoming a critical component of urban strategy. Interoperability, secure IT systems and sound data governance were highlighted as necessary foundations for reliable and future-proof digital infrastructure.
Panellists also underscored the value of co-creation and participatory design in building trust and ensuring that innovations reflect genuine community needs. Effective scaling and replication depend not only on technological readiness but also on long-term governance structures and robust financial mechanisms such as climate city contracts and special-purpose vehicles.
When asked to identify the single most important factor for enabling scalable, resilient urban innovation, participants cited effective governance, strong leadership, adaptability, people-centred design, clear definition of needs and solid business models. Together, these elements chart a clear course toward more liveable, inclusive and future-ready cities across Europe.
