Viana STARTS Transferring Knowledge Across Europe
European Urban Initiative programme challenges its funded projects to develop a framework of transferability, in close articulation with its transferability partners. But who are these partners? Transferability partners are cities who wish to implement similar structures in their own territories, to promote their own local STARTS initiatives. In other words, just like Viana do Castelo, such partner cities are equally committed to boost social and economic innovation and well-being in their territories, through Science, Technology and the Arts.
With the launch of the first call of the European Urban Initiative – Innovative Actions (EUI-IA) in September 2023, a transnational transfer component was formally integrated into the project lifecycle for the first time. This new approach marked a significant evolution from previous programmes, ensuring that replication and knowledge exchange between European cities became an essential element from the outset.
The Viana STARTS project is part of this pioneering generation of EUI-IA projects, having begun its initiation phase in September 2023 and moving into full implementation in March 2024, already with innovation transfer embedded as a strategic pillar. This process is supported by the EUI-designated Transfer Expert, Adele Bucella, whose role is crucial in ensuring the dissemination of learning, the creation of cooperation networks, and the adaptation of innovative solutions to different urban contexts.
The transfer experience has proven to be highly enriching, complementing the co-creation process by fostering active networking among European cities with different realities, strengthening knowledge sharing, and increasing the impact and replicability potential of the Viana STARTS project.
Despite the common starting point, each of partner city will implement its own original concept, responding to its specific needs and context:
- In the case of Brest, the initiative Places to Reinvent will be giving new life to public buildings, engaging local citizens throughout all stages of the development process;
- In Brescia, the New European Bauhaus and circular economy principles are being applied to project BIND, a new space for innovation and creativity.; and
- Las Palmas is activating Cachalote STARTS (Spearmwhale STARTS), a cultural and civic space dedicated to the blue economy, with activities around the city, even before the building opening.
Never forgetting its own cultural and ecological wealth, Viana STARTS is hence preparing a Transferability Toolkit, in collaboration with these three partner cities. This includes new formats of citizen participation, urban regeneration and sustainable innovation. Such a toolkit will assist the different locations to implement their own specific STARTS actions, inspired and informed by the knowledge and experience of Viana STARTS Center development. On the other hand, by working closely with its transferability partners, Viana STARTS implementation experience is also enhanced and enriched by its fellow cities' proposals and support.