Utilizing innovation potential of urban ecosystems

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URBAN INNO is addressing the challenge to make CE more innovative and competitive by maximising the innovation potential of smaller and medium sized urban ecosystems. A significantly better linkage of actors within urban innovation ecosystems (public authorities, research organizations, industry as well as end-users respectively customers and citizens) is needed for a better use of innovation potentials. Public and private sectors recognize that there is especially a significant gap in the field of participation in innovation processes from people as citizens and as users/customers. Many smart solutions, technologies and services are not used widely because of the lack of knowledge and motivation or acceptance of end-users. URBAN INNO focuses on maximising innovation potentials of urban ecosystems through: a) better linkage of actors in innovation systems by establishing and interlinking quadruple helix clusters/networks in the partner regions, and b) by the development and implementation of new participatory methods and tools to engage end-users in innovation processes with the objective to have educated and motivated users – SMART USERS. URBAN INNO will be implemented in small-medium sized urban ecosystems in CE with strong replication potential due to the big number of similar-sized cities in EU. Quadruple-helix networks will be established and regional/urban innovation action plans developed (setup of demo centres and testbeds for industry). In parallel, new participatory methods and tools will be developed and tested in pilot projects. Participative urban environments will substantially improve their innovation performance with the established innovation environment. A transnational cooperation strategy and platform will provide all interested regions the best available participatory tools and qualified facilitators and best practice will enable transfer and exchange of urban innovation models and practices throughout CE.

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