The European URBACT programme allows eleven cities in proximity to major “hubs” to learn on the general theme of job creation. The work takes place on two scales.

• transnational meetings and activities on specific themes: how to define the digital ecosystem, how to attract and retain talent, how to support start-ups, how to fund connected spaces and premises, how to digitise the traditional industries;
• local activities in each city from a local URBACT support group combining all the stakeholders around the local authority. Each group has the aim of drawing up a local digital agenda on the selected theme.

To take the example of a city in the programme, Clermont-Ferrand in France, as requested by the local authority, the network made it possible to work on supporting the sound and light sector with the stakeholders:

• execution of a sector inventory from February to June 2017;
• co-definition of a shared vision for the future of the sector (participatory workshop on 27 June 2017);
• identification of actions to be co-managed by stakeholders (June 2017 to May 2018).

http://urbact.eu/techtown

Lessons learnt

• Peer dialogue (city to city) is a powerful vehicle for learning.
• The cities forming a network must make sure they all want to learn from each other and must find donors to fund their local and transnational activities.