As the euPOLIS project draws to a close, we proudly present the highlights and key achievements featured in the final edition of the euPOLIS Project Magazine—a rich collection of experiences and innovations from four front-runner cities across Europe: Gladsaxe, Łódź, Belgrade, and Piraeus. This edition showcases how nature, technology, and citizen power have come together to transform urban spaces into healthier, more resilient, and inclusive environments.

euPOLIS Unveiled: Pioneering Nature, Technology, and Citizen Power to Reimagine Europe’s Smart Cities

In the Editor’s Digest, the magazine captures the core spirit of euPOLIS—the powerful integration of nature-based solutions and smart technology with deep citizen engagement to reimagine how European cities approach health, governance, and sustainability. It’s not just about innovative tools but about empowering communities and shifting urban paradigms.

City Spotlights – Where Innovation Takes Root

  • Urban Sensor Networks: Bridging Data and Action in euPOLIS Cities
    Across all four front-runner cities, urban sensor networks enable real-time environmental monitoring and support data-driven decision-making, bringing citizens and planners closer to actionable insights.
  • Gladsaxe: Metabolic Network Reactor Technology for Healthy Urban Water Bodies
    Gladsaxe presents a flagship intervention—an innovative urban pond developed by Biopolus based on metabolic network reactor technology. This system treats surface water at a micro-scale and creates a vibrant natural habitat that doubles as a social and educational community space. Combined with the Water Square playground and newly developed sensory gardens, these interventions epitomize holistic regeneration bridging nature and community.
  • Łódź: Revamping Urban Spaces: euPOLIS in Łódź
    The Anne R. Passage revitalization demonstrates the power of inclusive urban design. Transforming an overlooked urban corridor, this project harmonizes green infrastructure with cultural and social elements, fostering accessibility, community cohesion, and a deeper connection between residents and their environment.
  • Belgrade: Belgrade Showcases Innovation with ALINA Prototype: A New Chapter in Urban Nature-Based Solutions
    Despite challenges, Belgrade marked a milestone with the ALINA prototype developed by the Vertical Farm Institute. This vertical farming installation was publicly unveiled at the Mikser Festival and now serves as a permanent feature at the Faculty of Civil Engineering. ALINA stands as a living legacy integrating sustainable food production into the urban fabric.
  • Piraeus: Cultivating Green Futures: Schoolyard Greening and Vertical Gardens in Piraeus
    Interventions at the Ralleion Model Experimental Primary School include soil enrichment, planting over 500 native bushes, and installing a vertical garden with 960 plants. These actions enhance biodiversity, air quality, and provide young learners with an immersive environmental education experience.

The euPOLIS Toolbox – Technology & Methodology Unpacked

The project’s toolbox empowers cities to replicate and adapt innovative urban transformation strategies:

  • Empowering Urban Transformation: The euPOLIS Community Guide for Replication of Social-Cultural Urban Hubs offers practical methodologies for fostering participatory and culturally sensitive urban spaces.
  • Revolutionizing Urban Well-Being: Inside the EuPOLIS Visualization Tool provides an advanced platform to visualize and analyze the impacts of nature-based interventions for smarter urban planning.
  • Goal Driven Planning Matrix: A Smart, Inclusive Tool for Healthier, Greener Cities supports cities in setting priorities and monitoring progress toward more sustainable, inclusive urban health goals.

Deep Dives – Science Behind the Solutions

The magazine further explores Networking solutions for the evaluation of nature-based interventions in cities, outlining approaches to integrate data, foster collaborations, and build the scientific foundation for evidence-based urban sustainability.

Looking Ahead: A Legacy for Europe’s Urban Future

The final edition of the euPOLIS Project Magazine encapsulates the project’s journey from vision to tangible change. The knowledge and best practices distilled here provide a robust framework for policymakers, urban planners, researchers, and communities to co-create healthier, greener, and smarter cities across Europe.

We encourage everyone interested in sustainable urban futures to explore the detailed stories and insights from Gladsaxe, Łódź, Belgrade, and Piraeus. Together, these exemplars illuminate a hopeful path where nature, technology, and citizen engagement converge to redefine the smart city paradigm.

You can download the magazine HERE.