{"id":164668,"date":"2026-03-17T09:59:23","date_gmt":"2026-03-17T08:59:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cesie.org\/news\/spurup-aree-peri-urbane-transizione-climatica\/"},"modified":"2026-03-17T10:41:14","modified_gmt":"2026-03-17T09:41:14","slug":"spurup-peri-urban-areas-climate-transition","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cesie.org\/en\/higher-education-and-research\/spurup-peri-urban-areas-climate-transition\/","title":{"rendered":"Rethinking peri-urban areas for the climate transition"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Peri-urban areas<\/strong>, located at the interface between cities and the countryside, are among the most complex and vulnerable spaces in our territories<\/strong>. Here, industries, infrastructures, residential neighbourhoods and natural areas coexist, often without an integrated vision. These contexts concentrate many of today\u2019s challenges related to climate change, pollution and social inequalities<\/strong>, but also offer important opportunities for innovation and sustainable transformation<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From this awareness comes SpurUP<\/a><\/strong>, a European project funded by the Horizon Europe<\/strong> programme that aims to support the transition of peri-urban areas towards climate neutrality<\/strong>. The project works to reduce the environmental impact of industrial activities, promote circular economy<\/strong> practices and strengthen integrated governance models<\/strong> through collaboration among local authorities, businesses, universities, research centres and communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SpurUP<\/strong> aims to tackle these issues head-on by integrating net-zero technologies<\/strong> and facilitating Local Green Deals<\/a><\/strong> by connecting industries with city authorities, businesses, and policymakers in a shared mission to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve energy efficiency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SpurUP\u2019s approach combines low-emission industrial solutions, digital tools and structured participatory processes<\/strong>. A central role is played by Living Labs<\/a>, real-life experimentation spaces where solutions are co-designed, tested and improved together with local actors. In these settings, the climate transition is not only a technological challenge, but a shared process that puts people, territories and their specificities at the centre.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Living Labs and Replication Sites<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

To test its solutions, the project will involve three cities: Thessaloniki (Greece<\/strong>), Aalborg (Denmark), Jesi (Italy). <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

SpurUP\u2019s Living Labs<\/strong> are located in Thessaloniki (Greece)<\/strong>, Aalborg (Denmark)<\/strong> and Jesi (Italy)<\/strong>. In Thessaloniki, the project focuses on the decarbonisation of industrial processes<\/strong> and resource reuse; in Aalborg, on the creation of industrial energy communities<\/strong> and circular water use; and in Jesi, on energy efficiency, sustainable urban planning and peri-urban mobility<\/strong>. These diverse contexts allow the project to test different solutions tailored to local needs, while being designed for replication in other regions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These sites will serve as living labs by testing the grounds for digital tools and technical solutions tailored to regional needs. To ensure scalability<\/strong>, the project also includes three other cities as replication sites<\/strong>: Stara Zagora (Bulgaria)<\/strong>, Tulcea (Romania)<\/strong>, and Bristol (UK)<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A distinctive element of the project is the development of participatory governance<\/strong> and urban planning frameworks<\/strong>, designed to make decision-making processes more inclusive, transparent and coordinated. By directly involving stakeholders<\/strong>, SpurUP promotes more effective and socially accepted solutions that respond to local needs and endure over time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The project officially started with the first partners\u2019 meeting, held in Athens<\/strong>, which enabled the consortium to share its vision, objectives and working methods. This moment marked the beginning of a collaborative journey aimed at translating the project\u2019s ambitions into concrete actions<\/strong> in the territories involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Within SpurUP, CESIE<\/strong> contributes to the development of participatory processes, governance models and stakeholder engagement activities<\/strong>. Drawing on its experience in applied research and participatory design, CESIE<\/strong> works to strengthen the capacities of local actors and promote inclusive approaches<\/strong> that integrate environmental, social and economic dimensions in the climate transition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ultimately, SpurUP<\/strong> aims to create replicable models<\/strong> for other European regions, contributing to the development of more sustainable, resilient and inclusive peri-urban areas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

About SpurUP<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

SpurUP<\/a> \u00e8 is a Horizon Europe project (Project No. 101239566) dedicated to creating resilient, climate-neutral peri-urban regions. The consortium includes 34 partners across 11 countries, including universities, technology providers, local authorities, and NGOs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Partners<\/h2>\n\n\n\n