European Territorial Cooperation – URBACT

The funding program European Territorial Cooperation – URBACT enables exchange and joint learning among cities of all sizes. Aiming to create sustainably equitable, greener, and more productive urban living spaces, the program supports institutions engaged in urban planning, regional development, smart cities, infrastructure, rural development, and digitalization. From 2021 to 2027, URBACT promotes innovative solutions to address pressing urban challenges. Through the acquisition and exchange of knowledge, the development of integrated and participatory policies is advanced, creating structures that ensure the effective implementation of sustainable measures. This learning and exchange model benefits from collaboration between educational institutions, public bodies, and non-profit organizations—always employing gender-neutral language to foster inclusion of all participants.

The program targets municipalities, local authorities, and institutions interested in implementing forward-looking, integrated urban measures. Participation requires that cities, municipalities, city districts, regions, or metropolitan areas either act as leaders or are involved as key actors in urban matters. Networks must demonstrate a balanced geographical distribution, with at least one city assuming leadership as the Lead Partner and the majority of network partners being cities. A two-stage application process—starting with a six-month concept phase followed by a 24-month implementation phase—ensures that developed measures are well-founded and practically applied. The co-financing rate ranges between 70% and 85%, significantly supporting the financial framework of the grant program.

URBACT places particular emphasis on knowledge building and exchange as well as the continuous optimization of urban policymaking. The program supports projects that focus on research, innovation, resource-efficient economy, social cohesion, and employment promotion, while also considering participatory ("bottom-up") approaches. By forming action networks from participants across all 27 EU member states, Norway, and Switzerland, a solid exchange of experience is enabled, serving as a catalyst for sustainable urban development. This structured approach fosters close collaboration among experts, decision-makers, and practitioners who jointly develop strategies to address urban future challenges. In this way, the URBACT program makes a significant contribution to the transformation of cities and to strengthening regional innovation capacity and quality of life.