UTOPIZE

The UTOPIZE project addresses the profound ecological, technological, and demographic shifts reshaping Europe, including climate change, energy poverty, pandemics, aging populations, and social exclusion. These challenges call for innovative urban transformation. Rooted in the principles of the NEB, UTOPIZE proposes a framework to cocreate and reshape public spaces that are sustainable, inclusive, and aesthetically appealing.

At the heart of UTOPIZE is the concept of UTOPIA - reimagined not as a static ideal, but as a continuous, participatory journey that evolves with community engagement. UTOPIZE engages communities in the co-design and self-governance of their neighbourhoods, using a multi-level strategy that spans local to global scales. This approach fosters urban, peri-urban, and rural environments that are sustainable, culturally resonant, and reflective of local histories. It strengthens social cohesion, resilience, and adaptability to future challenges, aligning with NEB’s core values of Beauty, Sustainability, and Inclusion.

The UTOPIZE project’s ambition is to navigate the complex challenges of urban transformation through a structured approach that progresses from Identification, through Exploration, to Refinement. This phased approach ensures that each stage of the project builds upon the last, culminating in robust, scalable, and impactful urban governance models. By integrating the NEB principles throughout these phases, UTOPIZE will deliver sustainable, inclusive, and aesthetically enriching solutions for urban space

UTOPIZE is based around a comparative case study between Karlskoga (Sweden), Milan (Italia), and Penacova (Portugal). The participating researchers pair up with local administration for joint problem identification and solving. The project is coordinated by the regional authority of Coimbra, Portugal. The project is funded by Horizon, the European Union’s key funding programme for research and development.