The RESPONSE Webinar aims to introduce to the Transformation Axis#2 and present the RESPONSE contributions and activities implemented under the Transformation Axis#2.

The objective is to increase public awareness of RESPONSE and to create new links between organizations and enable learning and knowledge exchange processes, especially between Lighthouse and Fellow cities. Target audience is external.

Funded by the European Commission’s Horizon 2020 Framework Programme, RESPONSE is a 60-month project that addresses the H2020-LC-SC3-2020-EC-ES-SCC call.

It aims to establish a strategic vision for Smart Cities Energy Transition: Climate-neutral cities by 2050. RESPONSE aims to turn energy sustainability into a do-able vision by solving the energy trilemma (security, equity/affordability, environmental sustainability) at building, block and district levels in smart cities. The project builds upon intelligent integrated and interconnected energy systems coupled with demand-oriented city infrastructures, governance models and services that foster energy sustainability.

Target audience: Project’s stakeholders: action clusters, policy-making bodies and Governance, local public and private organizations such as market enterprises, energy providers, technology and services, general public interested in the thematic.

Join this informative Webinar – the event is free of charge but registration is required.

The RESPONSE technical providers introduced their solutions to the audience for the first time in the Environmental Workshop, organized by Turku University of Applied Sciences (TUAS). The residents of Turku PED area, the Student village, and other students were invited to the event that was held on December 2nd.
The audience listened carefully, when Turku Energia, Högfors GST, Sunamp, VTT, Egain and Solar Finland talked about the solution they are implementing in the recently constructed Tyyssija building in Turku Student village. The Student village foundation TYS was also present and explained how they support sustainable development, for example by heating control and enabling recycling.

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After the presentations, the participants enjoyed coffee and snacks and toured around tables where the technical providers explained about their activities within the project. Other RESPONSE partners had also the possibility to present their activities so TYS, the City of Turku and The Student village mentors were present, too.

It was also possible to participate in different kinds of activities in the event. Participant’s preferred routes and modes of mobility were mapped in one activity. Turku City Data, together with FMI and the city of Turku, organized a workshop where participants marked pleasant and unpleasant routes in the city of Turku. The materials produced in the activities can be used later in different types of mobility services developed in the project.

The event was a great possibility for many of the RESPONSE stakeholders to meet face-to-face. As the covid pandemic is still causing some inconveniences when planning meetings, the technical providers have had few possibilities for meeting each other. Therefore, the Student village tenants, and other participants were not the only ones who gained information in this event, but it was also good place for networking and sharing information among the project partners.

Text: Heidi Heikkilä
Photos: Elina Lunden

In late October 2021, the Turku Lighthouse project implementation leaders met physically for the first time since the proposal preparation. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss common challenges, timetables, and next steps regarding the work of the local ecosystem. The meeting included common discussion about the integration of technical solutions in citizen engagement activities and up-coming endeavors taking place in the coming year. Turku Administrative Site Manager Olena Zinchuk is happy about the possibility to meet in person after such a long period of virtual collaboration: “We got to see each other’s’ faces and got reminded that the project’s success is a combined effort of partner organizations and the people behind them. It was an excellent occasion to look into the main points in need of closer attention regarding the project implementation and how to proceed.” Aside from discussions the meeting also included a site visit to the one of the Positive Energy Block (PEB) buildings – “Tyyssija”. It is currently in the finalizing stages of the construction, completion of which is scheduled for 31 December 2021. The participants familiarized themselves with the building milieu and got a concrete understanding of the hard project measures which is important for moving RESPONSE forward.

Text – Sini Lamoureux, City of Turku
Photo – Heidi Heikkilä, TUAS

SIDO Lyon is the reference event in Europe on the convergence of IoT, Artificial Intelligence, XR & Robotics technologies. For two days, it brings together professionals from all industries, with over 250 exhibitors, 60 conferences and workshops led by 180 speakers. It gives you all the keys to make your digital transformation a reality. RESPONSE was at the heart of a conference followed by a round table around decarbonisation of territory: living green. Jean-Patrick Masson from Dijon Metropolis and RESPONSE partner James GRIVET from Wittym were speakers.
More information: https://bit.ly/3E07vOB

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Suzie Besset, Dijon Metropole

10/09/2021

The public lecture was held on September 10, 2021 at the Volodymyr Dahl East Ukrainian National University. Prof Halyna Tatarchenko gave a public lecture to the students of the specialty “Construction and Civil Engineering”. Lectures cycle is a way to get knowledge about RESPONSE project ideas, and can help participants to know what Innovative technologies can be used towards positive energy city, what aspects is important in this way? What each of us could do to reduce carbon emission? As well this one can help to obtain feedback from citizens.

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Regional Development Agency of Lugansk Region

15/11/2021-27/11/2021

During the School-Business Week, whose theme was “preparing together for the jobs of today and tomorrow” and the Industry Week, whose theme was “inventing a sustainable future”, Dijon installs the RESPONSE model in the FO neighborhood house and invites students, teachers, and local actors to come and discover the RESPONSE project. Professionals of the energy transition (EDF, Enedis, Léon Grosse) join forces to show young people the jobs of tomorrow.
During the School-Business Week it was promoted an educational action, where ENEDIS explain the issues of sustainable development and global warming. A time of exchange then took place on the future evolution of the Fontaine d’Ouche district, and on the functioning of the REPONSE project. Enedis presents its missions and the company’s professions: from network technician to DATA Scientist, opportunities for internships, work-study programmes and future jobs are promoted to young people.

Suzie Besset and Thomas Deweer (Up4North)

The 4th UBC TALKS webinar in 2021 will take place on November 30, 2021 and will focus on the future trends in sustainable energy production, bringing policies presented by Energy Cities.

The webinar is intended to answer questions such as “how to reach and promote energy efficiency”, or “what will be the trends in the sustainable energy production for 2022-2030”.

RESPONSE will be presented by Sini Lamoureux (City of Turku), and the presentation will include City of Turku’s climate positivity objective and provide examples of energy positivity solutions.

Find more the agenda and more information about the webinar here.

Register here.

The RESPONSE project is implementing the Webinar “RESPONSE – First actions and future plans towards Positive Energy Districts”. The objective of this webinar is to provide and discuss the initial experiences of the RESPONSE Partner Cities and their first steps towards achieving Positive Energy Districts. Representatives from the RESPONSE project Lighthouse and Fellow Cities will present their main goals, key activities during the first year of the project, expected results and upcoming actions.

The detailed agenda is available here.

Please register here by the 29^th September!

The webinar will take place remotely using the Zoom Platform.

11-14 October 2021

The European Week of Regions and Cities (#EURegionsWeek) is the biggest annual Brussels-based event dedicated to cohesion policy.

It has grown to become a unique communication and networking platform, bringing together regions and cities from all over Europe, including politicians, administrators, experts and academics. Over the last 18 years, it has done much to promote policy learning and the exchange of good practice.

The purpose of the EURegionsWeek is to discuss common challenges for Europe’s regions and cities and examine possible solutions, to provide a platform for capacity-building, learning and exchange of experience, to facilitate cooperation and networking between regions and cities, and to feed into the debate on EU cohesion policy in a wider context.

The themes for the 2021 edition are Green Transition, Cohesion, Digital Transition and Citizens engagements.

At the European Week of Regions and Cities, VTT will promote a workshop, “Fair and inclusive citizen engagement towards a new city vision in the energy transition”, and will present the first results and approach for the citizen engagement in RESPONSE.

Find more: https://europa.eu/regions-and-cities/home_en

24-25 June 2021

This hybrid event (in-person and online), which took place in Gabrovo on June 24^th and 25^th,  got together over 200 experts and policy makers from Bulgaria and EU, who debated over key topics such as: accelerated building stock decarbonization, development of sustainable urban ecosystems, innovative financial instruments, etc. Among the key speakers at the event were: Markku Markkula – First Vice-President of the European Committee of the Regions; Iskra Mihaylova – MEP and Chair of the Regional development commission at the European Parliament; Frederik Boyer – Covenant of Mayors head of office; Ivaylo Alexiev – Executive Director of the Bulgarian Sustainable Energy Development Agency, etc. The event showcased best practices and innovative ideas and solutions in areas such as: the Renovation Wave, Energy poverty and energy cooperatives, the EU Green deal, etc. The RESPONSE project – its scope and key objectives was presented by the representatives of MoG during the second Conference day as part of the “Energy management at municipal level” panel.

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