Latest News
Stay updated with the latest developments in SmartUrbanity's journey toward 15-minute cities
France (Lyon): General Assembly Meeting
April 9-10, 2026
SmartUrbanity recently held its second General Assembly meeting in Lyon, bringing together all members of the project consortium in collaboration with the Métropole de Lyon. The event took place on April 9 and 10, 2026, and brought together 16 participants.
Meeting Highlights:
- 16 consortium participants gathered in Lyon
- Progress review across all work packages
- Discussions on local workshop outcomes and citizen needs
- Official launch of Work Package 5 on guidelines and policy
- Two-hour bike tour showcasing Lyon's cycling initiatives
The assembly provided an opportunity to present the overall progress of the project alongside updates from each work package. Participants also engaged in fruitful discussions on the outcomes of the local workshop, exploring how the needs of citizens, urban planners, and decision-makers can be effectively integrated into the project.
The meeting further enabled partners to align on future strategies and next steps. Notably, Work Package 5, which focuses on guidelines, policy recommendations, and strategy optimization, was officially launched during this meeting.
The meeting was concluded with an engaging two-hour bike tour, providing participants with a first-hand experience of Lyon's cycling initiatives and its dynamic innovation ecosystem.
🙏 Special thanks to ENTPE and Métropole de Lyon for hosting this event.
Previous Updates
Earlier milestones from the SmartUrbanity journey
Rome Pilot Takes Shape: First Citizen Focus Group Success
January 13, 2026
SmartUrbanity's Rome pilot reached a crucial milestone with its first citizen focus group in Municipio XII, marking the beginning of meaningful community-driven urban innovation.
Session Highlights:
- Residents, local associations and community leaders participated
- Practical, solution-oriented discussions on mobility needs
- Collaborative mind mapping to shape next prototype iteration
- Community insights to guide Access Together app development
The focus group explored everyday mobility challenges and priorities that will directly inform the next iteration of Access Together, our citizen engagement application designed to capture real-world accessibility evidence including barriers, comfort levels, safety concerns, and service reliability.
What distinguished this session was the depth and quality of community input - grounded in lived experience and oriented toward actionable solutions. This represents exactly how meaningful urban innovation should happen: through the meeting of technology and community knowledge.
Next Steps:
Building on these insights through follow-up focus groups scheduled for February 25, 2026, with findings integrated into the next Access Together prototype.
🙏 Rome Pilot Team: Sapienza University of Rome, Movesion, CTLup, Municipio Roma XII, and the Rome Citizens' Consultation for Road Safety, Active Mobility and Sustainability.
SmartUrbanity is Officially Underway!
September 2025
Our consortium completed an inspiring kick-off meeting in Rome, bringing together 16 European partners united by one vision: creating citizen-centric, accessible 15-minute cities.
Key Highlights:
- Hosted by Sapienza Università di Roma
- 5 pilot cities ready for transformation
- Strong partnership foundation established
- Clear roadmap for the next 27 months
From Rome's historic courtyards to cutting-edge urban innovation - bridging academic research and real community needs.
🏛️ Special thanks to Sapienza Università di Roma and XII Municipio di Roma for hosting us in the beautiful setting of the Eternal City.
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