NEWS

WeGenerate Consortium Meeting in Cesena

The historic city of Cesena hosted the third WeGenerate Consortium Meeting, a three-day event focused on sustainable urban transformations. From October 23-25, local officials, project partners, and city representatives gathered to exchange ideas, insights, and strategies for building sustainable, inclusive, and more resilient cities. The event featured workshops, presentations, and an immersive tour of Cesena’s Demo Area, fostering a spirit of innovation and collaboration among participating cities.

 

A Grand Welcome and Insights from the Demo City of Cesena

The event began with a warm welcome from Andrea Bertani, Environmental Councilor, and Giorgia Macrelli, EU Project Councilor of Cesena, who expressed pride in hosting a consortium with a mission as impactful as WeGenerate. They reflected on Cesena’s journey towards a more connected and eco-friendly urban landscape, expressing hopes for collaborative progress through WeGenerate’s network of cities.

On the second day, Enzo Lattuca, Mayor of Cesena, also extended his greetings, underscoring Cesena’s commitment to becoming a model city for sustainable development and technological integration.

 

Updates from the WeGenerate’s Demo Cities and New Fellow Cities

Representatives from all four Demo Cities shared updates on their action plans, focusing on preparatory steps and actions aimed at achieving WeGenerate’s goals. This was followed by presentations from newly onboarded Fellow Cities - Liepaja, Cartagena, Szombathely, Kadıköy, and Zagreb. Each Fellow City highlighted its unique cultural, geographical, and economic contexts, as well as areas needing sustainable improvement. Representatives expressed eagerness to learn from the Demo Cities’ progress and to bring actionable insights back to their own communities.

 

Delving into Cesena’s Demo Area

On the second day of the meeting, participants were introduced to Cesena's Demo Area, the “Vigne-Railway station”, which included a presentation about its historical context and the tracing of its evolution. Representatives from Cesena Municipality, presented the current and future transformations underway, offering insights into how Cesena plans to maintain momentum in urban development.

 

Site Visit: A First-hand Experience of Cesena’s Urban Transformation

The on-site visit, guided by experts from Cesena Municipality, the University of Bologna, and AIDORU, provided attendees with a vivid look at the heart of Cesena’s Demo Area. Along the walk, participants engaged with local stories and learned about the critical role that community involvement has played in shaping the area’s transformation. This local narration brought a personal touch to the site’s innovations, making the experience both informative and inspiring.

 

Workshops

The Innovation Hub Workshop centred on sustainable mobility, bringing participants together to brainstorm actionable solutions for the Demo Cities. This workshop highlighted the power of collective input and allowed attendees to contribute to the development of real, impactful mobility strategies tailored to each city’s needs.

The "Demo City Workshop: Graphic Implementation Roadmaps" was a unique opportunity to translate complex strategies into clear, visually engaging roadmaps. The exercise helped attendees visualize the steps required to implement various urban initiatives, further bridging the gap between ideas and reality.

In the session on the Fellow Cities’ on-boarding process, participants were introduced to cutting-edge concepts in social innovation and digital twins, equipping them with the digital tools necessary to enhance their city’s projects. This crash course was especially impactful, providing city representatives with insights into how digital twins and innovative practices can accelerate their cities’ transformation.

 

A Key Event for Urban Sustainability and Innovation

The WeGenerate Consortium Meeting in Cesena concluded as a landmark event in the journey towards sustainable urban innovation. With inspiring contributions, the meeting reinforced the importance of collaboration, community engagement, and innovation in achieving a sustainable future. The collective vision crafted during these three days in Cesena will guide the cities of WeGenerate as they work to create more connected, resilient, and people-centric urban environments across Europe.