Surplus Welzijn  – Leveraging Virtual Reality to Empower Youth in Breda

How can Virtual Reality (VR) empower young people and reshape traditional youth work? In Breda, a pioneering pilot led by Surplus Welzijn explored this question by integrating VR into social work practices. The pilot, part of the CommuniCity Second Round of Open Calls, aimed to tackle intergenerational challenges by engaging young people as co-creators of VR tools designed to strengthen their social-emotional skills and communication abilities and support their personal development.  

The pilot addressed individual growth and demonstrated how the latest technologies can foster greater engagement and connection among vulnerable youth in urban environments.

Pilot Overview

The pilot focused on 2 key VR experiences: 

– Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes, tested with 6 young people and adapted to help young people set and track personal development goals while enhancing teamwork and problem-solving skills.  

– Wander, transformed into a social mapping tool that allowed participants to create 360-degree virtual tours of places significant to their lives, facilitating discussions about identity, community, and personal experiences.  

 The pilot involved 13 co-creation meetings with VR specialists and 33 interactive sessions with young people, providing continuous feedback to refine the tools.  

Co-Creation Process

Youth engagement was central to the pilot, with young people involved as co-designers. Proven methodologies like motivational interviewing and solution-focused work ensured the VR tools’ practical application in youth work settings, enhancing their effectiveness.

Two VR games were adapted as development tools:

  • “Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes” helped build self-awareness, communication, and problem-solving skills, with participants reporting improved confidence and goal-setting abilities.
  • “Wander” facilitated discussions on identity and community through 360-degree virtual tours, fostering natural, meaningful conversations and deeper social insights.

VR and co-creation methodologies empowered participants, enriched interactions, and provided youth workers with valuable perspectives on young people’s needs.

Building on the pilot’s success, the project is finalizing instructional resources and templates to enable global adoption of these tools. A methodological manual, developed with Avans University and Surplus Welzijn, will consolidate the pilot’s insights for youth work practitioners.

Citizen Dialogue Kit: Enhancing Urban Co-Creation

As part of the CommuniCity Second Round of Open Calls, the cross-border Citizen Dialog Kit pilot has been deployed in Prague, Amsterdam, and Porto to engage citizens in the design and development of public spaces. These wireless, battery-operated devices provide an innovative way to gather spontaneous feedback, allowing real-time input on urban spaces without infrastructure requirements.

Pilot Overview

In Amsterdam, the CDK engaged 378 people near the Johan Cruijff Arena, gathering feedback on the boulevard’s features and potential improvements. In Prague, 381 participants shared their thoughts on playground upgrades in the Prague 6 district. The survey gathered insights from 462 park visitors in Porto to inform them and take their suggestions regarding the park’s ongoing development near the social housing neighbourhood and school.

Results and Co-Creation

The results from these pilots underline the power of citizen-driven co-creation in urban development. Participants expressed their appreciation for the intuitive nature of the CDK devices, noting how easy it was to share their opinions. Many were surprised by the simple process and appreciated the opportunity to have their voices heard. The feedback gathered from these three pilots will directly inform further urban planning efforts and the development of community spaces in each city.

Following the successful pilot, the Citizen Dialog Kit team is preparing to launch a spin-off company to expand its technology and further promote citizen engagement in urban co-creation. 

CommuniCity shined at the Smart City Expo World Congress in Barcelona

The CommuniCity project recently hosted the session “Scaling Urban Innovation: Implementation for CommuniCity’s Replicator Cities,” a vibrant platform where urban leaders and innovators came together to tackle pressing urban and social challenges. The session was held on the 6th of November at Smart City Expo in Barcelona.

The panel brought together a diverse lineup of experts:

  • Giusi (Josephine) Di Pino from Open & Agile Smart Cities & Communities (OASC)
  • Megan L. from Manchester City Council
  • Petr Samec from OITR Prague
  • Adeeb Sidani from Porto Digital

These panelists shared valuable insights into the unique challenges their cities face and the innovative approaches being adopted to address them.

A Lively Exchange of Ideas

The session quickly evolved into a dynamic and interactive discussion, with panelists engaging directly with members of the audience, including CommuniCity consortium members and tech providers. Many participants had already submitted proposals through CommuniCity’s Open Calls, adding a practical dimension to the dialogue.

This exchange of ideas emphasized the project’s ethos of fostering collaboration between cities and technology innovators to address real-world urban needs.

Highlighting Transparent and Ethical AI

The event also spotlighted CommuniCity’s piloting procedures and its steadfast commitment to FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable) and transparent artificial intelligence. These principles align with the OASC MIM5 standard on Fair and Transparent AI, underscoring CommuniCity’s dedication to ethical technology implementation.

Shared Vision for Urban Innovation

Attendees left the session inspired by the collaborative spirit and the shared vision of advancing urban and social innovation across Europe. The event not only showcased the power of cooperation but also reinforced CommuniCity’s role as a catalyst for scalable and impactful urban solutions.

As the next phase of CommuniCity pilors is expected to kick off in December, expectations are high for the continued advancement of urban and social innovation across Europe. With a shared vision and collaborative spirit, the initiative is poised to deliver scalable solutions that will make a lasting difference in cities and communities.

CommuniCity Drives Digital Transition and Social Innovation at OpenLivingLab Days 2024

On 24 September 2024, CommuniCity hosted “Smart Communities: AI, Digital Transition and Social Change” at OpenLivingLab Days in Timisoara, Romania. This event brought together policymakers, city officials, researchers, and community members to explore how cities can leverage digital technologies to foster social innovation and increase citizen participation. Organised with the Go Li.EU project, the session featured an interactive workshop and a panel discussion. CommuniCity’s approach to identifying local challenges and co-creating digital solutions was highlighted, showcasing how technology can be integrated into urban governance with active citizen involvement.

Fostering Community-Driven Innovation

At the hearth of the event was CommuniCity’s mission to ensure digital transformation benefits all. Participants engaged in practical exercises using CommuniCity’s methodology, which emphasizes community input in digital transitions. Two manuals—the Open Calls Manual and the Piloting Manual—were presented, providing cities with tools to involve citizens in innovation processes through open calls and structured pilot projects. CommuniLab, a platform for collaboration and knowledge exchange, was also introduced.

Ethical Digitalisation in Urban Governance

The panel, moderated by Wim De Kinderen from Brainport Eindhoven EU Office, discussed the ethical implications of digital transitions. Experts from various sectors, including Josephine Di Pino (OASC), Adeeb Sidani (Porto Digital), and Silja Peltonen (Forum Virium Helsinki), addressed challenges such as data privacy and the digital divide, while exploring how big data and AI can improve public services.

A Pioneering Moment for Digital Urban Systems

A key highlight was the launch of ENoLL’s Digital Urban Systems and Solutions for Transition Urban Innovation (DUSST UI) Working Group, in collaboration with CommuniCity. This initiative aims to scale up urban digital innovation by leveraging living lab approaches, ensuring innovations are inclusive and sustainable.

Empowering Cities for a Digital Future

CommuniCity provides cities with the tools and guidance to drive digital innovation, focusing on citizen engagement and social inclusivity. By integrating community input into new technologies, CommuniCity is helping shape the future of urban digital transformation. The event at OpenLivingLab Days highlighted CommuniCity’s role in bringing stakeholders together to address the challenges and opportunities of digital transitions. CommuniCity’s work demonstrates how digital technologies can create more connected, inclusive, and socially responsive urban environments, with cities and citizens collaborating to build a digitally empowered future.

CommuniCity Third Open Call is on! 

CommuniCity’s participation at the OLDD in Timișoara coincided with the launch of the project’s third open call. The call  is open from 10 September to 31 October 2024, with over 60 grants available for tech companies. Seventeen cities across Europe presented 54 challenges, seeking innovative tech solutions for co-creation with marginalised communities. To learn more about the third open call, click here. 

CommuniCity launches the third Open Call: now reaching 100 tech-driven pilots acrossEurope

The CommuniCity consortium is pleased to announce the launch of its third Open Call.
This final round will provide grants to over 60 tech providers across Europe, reaching a
total of around 100 grants provided by CommuniCity. The CommuniCity project seeks
novel solutions for 54 city-specific challenges to address pressing social, economic, and
urban challenges, with a particular emphasis on improving digital inclusion and
sustainability for marginalised communities within European cities.

Building on the success of previous rounds, this final phase of CommuniCity Open Call for
Applications expands its reach to 17 cities. In addition to the project partner cities of
Helsinki, Porto, and Amsterdam so-called replicator cities have defined their unique
challenges aiming to tackle the specific needs of their communities. These replicator
cities are Aarhus, Bruges, Brussels, Cuneo, London, Manchester, Matosinhos, Milazzo, Plock,
Prague, Sant Boi de Llobregat, Sarajevo, The Hague and Utrecht.

Over 60 grants available for tech companies

The budget of the final open call reaches around €820,000. Selected pilot teams will
receive a grant of up to €12,500 to develop their technology solutions and run real-life
experiments in collaboration with the residents. CommuniCity invites tech providers to
submit applications by October 31st for innovative solutions addressing the needs of
marginalised communities.

To foster collaboration, CommuniCity has established a dedicated Matchmaking Platform,
enabling tech providers, citizens, companies, and organisations to find partners and work
together to create impactful solutions. Additionally, the CommuniCity Consortium is
hosting a series of Info Events to help applicants understand the Open Call requirements
and navigate the application process.


Application deadline 31 October

The application period is open until October 31st, 2024 at 17.00 CET. All submissions must
be in English and clearly outline co-creation activities with the marginalised communities.
Successful applicants enter the piloting phase in December 2024, with pilot projects
anticipated to be completed by May 2025. The evaluation process will follow the same
transparent criteria used in previous rounds, ensuring fairness and quality.

CommuniCity is a 3-year project funded by the European Commission’s Horizon Europe
Programme. By 2025, the project aims to run 100 tech pilots through three rounds of
CommuniCity Open Calls, focusing on co-creation and developing a comprehensive set
of guidelines for future smart city initiatives.

For more information on the project and how to apply for the open call, visit the
CommuniCity website and follow us on social media:

communicity-project.eu
Instagram @communi_city
X @communi_city
LinkedIn CommuniCity

Contacts:
Josephine Di Pino
CommuniCity Coordinator
josephine@oascities.org


Anne-Mari Sandell
Open Call Lead
anne-mari.sandell@forumvirium.fi


Adeeb Sidani
Technical Lead
adeeb.sidani@portodigital.pt


Neeltje Pavicic
Project Manager
n.pavicic@amsterdam.n

Education & Capacity Building Working Group meeting: Digital Inclusion in Action: CommuniCity’s Pilot Framework

Join us for an enriching experience at the upcoming open meeting hosted by the Education and Capacity Building working group of the Living.in-EU movement. During our second meeting of the year, we will delve into exciting developments from our sister project, CommuniCity.The toolkit developed through this initiative will be showcased and participants will be engaged in a collaborative session to identify hindering and enabling factors during open calls and piloting.

Date: May 23, 2024

Time: 9:30 AM – 11:30 AM CET

Location: Online

Building upon the successes of CommuniCity, this workshop aims to introduce innovative educational tools and frameworks designed to empower organisations participating in open calls and piloting procedures to foster inclusion within their communities.

CommuniCity aims to create impactful pilot projects utilising AI and emerging technologies by tackling the challenges faced by marginalized groups. Through its multitude of innovation pilots across diverse communities, urban, peri-urban, and rural, CommuniCity is dedicated to empowering hard-to-reach groups. By integrating lessons from three cycles of calls and leveraging various innovation methodologies, living labs, and platforms, an inclusive, community-driven innovation model will be devised.

The event will be hosted by Forum Virium Helsinki, the City of Helsinki innovation company.

Don’t miss out on this opportunity to be part of a transformative dialogue on community inclusion and innovation. Register now using the link below and mark your calendars for May 23rd. We look forward to welcoming you to this dynamic session!

Registration

See you there!

Revolutionizing conversations with MOKIN – An AI Interpreter for Status Holders

MOKIN is more than just a translation tool, it’s a comprehensive solution tailored specifically for interviews with status holders. Developed in response to the inadequacies of traditional translation programs like Google Translate, MOKIN addresses privacy concerns and language limitations head-on.

By capturing entire conversations in both languages and incorporating a summary generation feature, MOKIN ensures seamless communication while safeguarding sensitive information. This pilot initiative based in Amsterdam showcased MOKIN’s effectiveness through rigorous testing and user feedback. Co-creation activities, including user interviews and continuous refinement, were integral to the process. The results spoke volumes – it proved its suitability, with plans underway to scale its use and enhance features based on user needs.

In the process of co-creation with stakeholders and the target groups, the pilot team has learned about different data collection methods and has worked closely with translators to validate the quality of the data for each use case. They have also learnt how the language model could have a place in the participation and integration process with the IT infrastructure of the Municipality of Amsterdam. Finally, they have learnt that the target group, the status-holders (refugees) often speak other Arabic dialects (Syrian) which is different from international Arabic.

With Arabic (Syrian) as the initial language and plans to incorporate Tigrinya and Farsi, MOKIN is on the brink of widespread implementation. Their commitment to openness and collaboration remains unwavering as they work towards enhancing MOKIN’s capabilities and expanding its reach.

InclusiVerse Paves the Way for Disability Inclusion in Helsinki

InclusiVerse Paves the Way for Disability Inclusion in Helsinki

InclusiVerse, the groundbreaking virtual reality application developed by CTRL Reality, has successfully completed its pilot phase, marking a significant milestone in the journey towards disability inclusion. Designed to enhance the social and digital skills of individuals with developmental disabilities, InclusiVerse provides a safe and immersive virtual environment where users can engage in social interactions, practice daily routines, and explore new situations. Through real-time collaboration and customizable environments, it empowers users to navigate the complexities of everyday life with confidence and ease. Throughout the pilot phase, CTRL Reality worked with approximately 150 end users, witnessing firsthand the transformative impact of virtual technologies on their lives. From improved social interactions to increased confidence, the results speak volumes about the power of inclusion and accessibility in shaping a more equitable society. CTRL Reality remains committed to expanding the reach of InclusiVerse, to break down barriers, foster understanding, and build a more inclusive world for all.

Shape the future of your city: Join the CommuniCity Open Call

Does your city or NGO struggle with social or urban challenges? Join the upcoming open call and let the CommuniCity Consortium help you tackle these pressing challenges by utilising innovative technologies. The third CommuniCity Open Call will be launched on 10 September 2024 and it seeks technology-driven solutions to bridge the digital divide and enhance the well-being of marginalised communities. 

Building upon the success of the previous rounds, the third CommuniCity Open Call expands its reach by inviting participants from cities and NGOs across Europe. While the initial rounds of open calls focused on a relatively small group of participating cities, this final CommuniCity Open Call fosters a broader and more inclusive initiative. Therefore the CommuniCity consortium calls for NGOs and new cities to present novel challenges and join the open call as “challenge owners”.

Unlock innovation potential!

The CommuniCity Open Call presents a compelling opportunity for European cities to address pressing social and economic challenges while encouraging digital inclusion. Through a unique collaboration between city representatives, professionals, residents and technology providers, the project fosters the development and co-creation of innovative solutions tailored to each city’s specific needs. 

Participating cities gain valuable insights into supporting marginalised communities and improving the services provided by the cities. Additionally, the participating cities have the chance to replicate best practices identified in previous open call rounds, accelerating progress towards more inclusive and resilient cities. 

Ready to tackle challenges in your city? 

The CommuniCity Consortium warmly welcomes new cities to participate in the upcoming Open Call and is eager to collaborate on tackling urban challenges. Beyond cross-European networks, participating cities and NGOs gain valuable expertise in co-creation methodologies as well as future technologies including Artificial Intelligence. Additionally, the participating cities are supported with step-by-step guidance for successful agile piloting, ensuring a smooth and efficient process. 

Throughout the open call phases, dedicated digital tools and support activities are offered to participating cities, ensuring a seamless and effective piloting process. This includes bi-weekly meetings hosted by the CommuniCity project, along with tailored support provided when specific needs arise. Furthermore, cities gain access to a wide range of technical components and tools developed by the project.

The deadline for applications to the third CommuniCity Open Calls is 31 October 2024. Following this, expert juries nominated by participating cities will evaluate the applications. In December, the winning applicants can begin piloting technological solutions in their respective cities and can continue their experiments until May 2025. The CommuniCity project will grant each winning team a minimum of €12,500 Eur grant to support their solution development and pilot implementation efforts.

Watch our Third Open Call Info Session!

Missed any of the CommuniCity Info Sessions? Below is the link to the recording of the session held on 4th June 2024.  In the video, you can learn how the CommuniCity project works, lessons from past open calls, and how the Third Open Call will unfold.