Category: News from IURC

IURC Referenced in European Commission’s “EU Agenda for Cities” Communication

The European Commission has released the Communication “An EU Agenda for Cities: Driving Growth and Prosperity”, presenting a comprehensive framework for sustainable and integrated urban development across Europe. The document outlines how the EU intends to support cities of all sizes in addressing shared challenges and preparing for long-term competitiveness, resilience and social well-being. In its section on international cooperation, the...

EU Commission’s Panorama Magazine Highlights IURC’s Global Impact

The European Commission’s flagship regional-policy magazine Panorama has featured the International Urban and Regional Cooperation (IURC) programme in its latest online edition. The article showcases how IURC connects cities and regions across continents to collaborate on sustainable urban development, innovation, and regional transformation. The Panorama feature highlights IURC’s growing network of more than 130 participating cities and regions worldwide and underscores the programme’s role...

IURC Country Leads from Australasia Present Phase II Progress

Professor Bruce Wilson and Dr Paul Dalziel, IURC Country Leads for Australia and New Zealand, spoke in early December at the 48th Annual Conference of the Australia and New Zealand Regional Science Association International, organised in collaboration with the Regional Studies Association. The two-day conference took place at the University of Waikato in Hamilton, New Zealand. Regional Resilience and Smart...

Madrid and Zhengzhou Explore Collaboration on Circular Economy and Smart City Projects

On 28 November 2025, representatives from the City of Madrid and the City of Zhengzhou took part in a dedicated exchange organised by the IURC Asia & Australasia programme. The session explored opportunities for cooperation on circular economy solutions, smart city development, and environmental technologies, with the aim of establishing a structured working framework for future collaboration. Both sides shared...

Messina and Zhengzhou Explore Collaboration in Sustainable Tourism and Cultural Heritage

On 27 November 2025, the cities of Messina, Italy, and Zhengzhou, China, took part in an exchange organised within the framework of the EU-funded International Urban and Regional Cooperation (IURC) programme. Moderated by Qian Wang from IURC Asia & Australasia, the session explored potential collaboration in sustainable tourism, cultural heritage preservation, and public event management, with a particular focus on...

IURC AA Cities Explore Inclusive Urban Regeneration and Affordable Housing Solutions in Deep Dive Session

On 27 October 2025, the International Urban and Regional Cooperation (IURC) Asia & Australasia programme convened its third deep dive session under the Urban Regeneration & Social Cohesion cluster, bringing together cities from Europe and Asia-Australasia to exchange approaches on inclusive neighbourhood development, affordable housing, and innovative governance. Moderated by Hannah Paig from Hong Kong, the session highlighted six diverse...

IURC AA Cities Advance Urban Regeneration and Social Cohesion in Second Deep Dive Session

On 23 October 2025, the International Urban and Regional Cooperation (IURC) Asia & Australasia programme held its second deep dive session under the Urban Regeneration & Social Cohesion thematic cluster, bringing together cities from Europe and Asia to exchange practical approaches to revitalising neighbourhoods, supporting community-driven development, and strengthening social inclusion. The session gathered participants from Bari (Italy), Melaka (Malaysia)...

IURC AA Cities Exchange Approaches to Social Housing, Regeneration and Inclusive Neighbourhoods in Cluster 6 Deep Dive

On 20 October 2025, the International Urban and Regional Cooperation (IURC) programme launched its Urban Regeneration & Social Cohesion (Cluster 6) deep-dive series with an online session gathering 59 participants from 14 cities across Europe, India, Singapore and Australia. The meeting provided a comparative look at how cities are addressing growing pressures around affordable housing, population change, spatial inequality and...

Circular and Regenerative Business Models: Deep Dive Session 3

The final webinar on Circular and Regenerative Business Models marked the conclusion of the IURC Asia & Australasia deep dive webinar series and brought together 46 participants for an online exchange featuring presentations from five cities across Europe and Asia . The session focused on practical approaches to circular and regenerative business models, with contributions highlighting policy frameworks, technological solutions, and...

Beyond the Beginning, Far from the End: EU-China High-Level Leaders Gather for Urban and Regional Cooperation

Sustainability, Cooperation, Green Growth and Urban Transformation are terms beyond concept to embody the core of forward-thinking strategies in IURC-China. The concluding event, the EU-China High-Level Seminar on Regional Policy dated 27th March 2024, echoed not only the ambitions and goals but also concrete and pragmatic approaches through collaborative learning and partnerships among over 40 European and Chinese cities and...