1. Strengthening EU-CELAC collaboration within H2020 and beyond "Sustainable Urbanisation" Senior Officials´ Meeting (SOM) on Science and Technology El Salvador, 2 October 2017
Christos Fragakis Deputy Head of Unit Sustainable Management of Natural Resources, DG Research & Innovation

2. Content Sustainable Urbanisation International Policy Context
EU Policy Context
Sustainable Urbanisation in H2020
Potential opportunities for EU-CELAC collaboration on SU in WP ;
Ways forward?

3. Current international policy drivers for EU R&I on Sustainable Urbanisation and city re-naturing

4. Sustainable urbanisation is a priority at the global level
HABITAT III in Quito on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development

5. HABITAT III in Quito on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development
#NewUrbanAgenda; #InnovatingCities
“We will support science, research, and innovation, including a focus on social, technological, digital and nature-based innovation, robust science-policy interfaces in urban and territorial planning and policy formulation” […]
Quito Declaration on sustainable cities and human settlements for all - New Urban Agenda
United Nations Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development - Habitat III - October 2016
Quito at night with Cotopaxi mountain © Santiago Cornejo

7. Sustainable urbanisation in H2020: A solutions-oriented programme for and with cities
The complexity and inter-dependence of urban challenges necessitates systemic and multi-dimensional approaches implementable at different levels and scales;
Sustainable urbanisation is being addressed under several thematic priorities across EU H2020 (e.g. energy, transport, environment, agriculture etc.) each one of which has its specific objectives;
EU R&I agenda on SU aims to strengthen innovation capacity of cities (actors of open innovation) to enable them to find solutions to challenges and accelerate their transition towards low-carbon, resource efficient, inclusive, resilient, healthier and sustainable futures;

8. An EU R&I Policy Framework for sustainable cities through NBS
Promote "city re-naturing" as a systemic and cross-sectorial approach to enhance urban sustainability and resilience;
Develop a large portfolio of systemic, replicable, scalable and integrated nature-based solutions which are tested in real world conditions;
Provide robust evidence about their cost-effectiveness;
Mobilise and leverage new investments to open up new business opportunities;
Promote international co-operation to create a global market for such solutions;

9. Defining Nature-based solutions
Solutions inspired and supported by nature that simultaneously provide environmental, social and economic benefits and help to build resilience
Solutions that bring more nature and natural features and processes into cities, landscapes and seascapes, through locally adapted and systemic interventions
Living solutions  Engineered solutions  NO bio- mimicry; NO bio-materials

10. Targets EU R&I NBS Roadmap :
Enhance framework conditions for NBS at EU and international level
2. Develop a Community of innovators
3. Provide solid knowledge and robust evidence base (INCO essential)
4. Advance development, upscaling and uptake
5. Mainstream NBS within international R&I agendas for collaborations (INCO essential)

11. H2020 Investment on Sustainable Urbanisation
The global market for Smart Cities solutions will be worth 1.3 trillion € in 2025
Total 'Horizon 2020' on R&I on cities: EUR 1.5 billion ( ).
EUR 435 million ( ) to demonstration projects (IA) through cross-cutting call on "Smart and Sustainable Cities":
Smart Cities and Communities lighthouse: 330 M EUR( );
Smart and Sustainable Cities through Nature-Based Solutions: 105 M EUR ( )

12. International R&I cooperation for Sustainable Cities through NBS
H2020 WP : EU-CELAC/EU-China flagships on Sustainable Urbanisation
Collaboration framework between JPI Urban Europe and Belmont Forum on "Sustainable Urbanisation Global Initiative – Food-Water-Energy Nexus (SUGI)"
EU-Brazil Sector Dialogue on Sustainable Cities and Nature-Based Solutions
Global Covenant of Mayors

13. CELAC participation in H2020 urban re-naturing funded projects
1. H call: 'Nature-based solutions for climate and water resilience in cities' (4 big demo projects: Medellin, Buenos Aires and Brazilian Network of Intelligent Cities)
2. H call: 'Nature-based solutions for inclusive urban regeneration' (ongoing evaluation; 23 CELAC applicants in 1st stage proposals)
3. Sustainable Urbanisation Global Initiative (SUGI) Food-Water-Energy Nexus (Joint JPI URBAN EUROPE-Belmont Forum Collaborative Research Action – MINCYT, FAPESP in Belmont)
4. Multi-stakeholder platform “ThinkNature“ to promote innovation with Nature-based solutions (CSA)
Latin American associations in International Advisory Board; International Dialogue and Collaboration foreseen

14. Sustainable urbanisation in H2020 (2018-2020)
Innovating cities for sustainability and resilience (SC5)
An EU-CELAC flagship on “Restoration and rehabilitation of urban ecosystems"
Promotion of socio-economic integration and social inclusion (SC6)
Energy-efficient buildings and districts (PPP)
Smart Cities and Communities (SC3)
Agri-Food Chain and Innovative and citizen-driven food system approaches in cities (SC2)
Transport, sustainable urban accessibility and connectivity (SC4)
An INCO flagship on “Urban mobility and sustainable electrification in large urban areas in developing and emerging economies” (addressing also CELAC countries)

15. Consolidating EU-CELAC R&I collaboration on Sustainable Urbanisation: Way forward?
Short-term objectives: to boost the cooperation in the short term through fine-tuning of the 2019 Societal Challenge 5 flagship EU-CELAC topic on "Nature-based solutions for restoration and rehabilitation of urban ecosystems" (Experts meeting of 3/10/2017);
Long-term objectives: establish a structured dialogue process to define common research priorities on sustainable urbanisation and possible ways of implementing them, building on existing research agendas in the EU and in CELAC and capitalizing on the diversity of funding streams/instruments (e.g. EU FPs, JPI Urban Europe, Belmont Forum, Sector Dialogues, multi-lateral EU MS/CELAC etc.);

16. Possible tasks for this structure?
To conduct intra-CELAC consultations on sustainable urbanisation R&I relevant issues (e.g. common priorities, other issues as they emerge, etc.)
To share information among CELAC countries on ongoing or planned activities at national, regional, international level with involvement of CELAC countires and seek oportunities for synergies;
To synthesize contributions from individual CELAC countries into jointly agreed CELAC point of view;
To engage in structured dialogues with European Commission, EU Member States, JPI, Belmont etc. and co-decide on joint R&I activities;

17. Possible benefits/added value of such a structure?
Act as a single "contact" point in dialogues with other international "interlocuteurs";
Enhanced co-ordination among various activities, avoidance of duplication, leveraging additional resources and establishment of synergies;
Monitor progress in enhancing international R&I co-operation with CELAC involvement;
Conduct information communication and outreach activities to mobilise CELAC scientific communities and relevant stakeholders towards actions with shared objectives;  i

18. SOM to decide on:
Is there an added value in setting up a formal "institutionalized" (e.g. task force, working group, forum, platform etc.) comprising CELAC as a mandated CELAC think-tank for international cooperation on R&I for Sustainable Urbanisation?

19. Governance if such structure?
Which CELAC countries would eventually be interested to actively participate in such a mechanism and commit necessary resources?
Nominate national representatives?
Which CELAC country is willing to assume the overall co-ordination role and provide logistics support?

20. For more information
about HORIZON 2020:
About H2020 calls under SC 5
For up-to-date information on R&I policies and events  
Nature-Based Solutions:
#NatureBasedSolutions
Innovating Cities: #InnovatingCities 
Cultural Heritage:

21. An open invitation to work with you and with nature!
Find out more: