Facing a challenge proposed by CommuniCity’s Second Round of Open Calls, Duckwise ApS suggested the co-creation of a user-centred and intuitive app that simplifies the process of setting up a bank account, making the often complex Danish administrative system easier to navigate. Specifically targeting foreigners, this solution assists the new citizens with bank bureaucracy, benefiting banks, relocation consultants, politicians, and citizen service workers as well.

The Co-Creation Process

The development of this solution has incorporated a cooperative methodology from the beginning. The co-creation activities included:

• Interviewing foreigners, bank workers, and relocation consultants to better understand the current challenges.
• Inviting the target groups as participants in a co-creation workshop, granting them the opportunity to share their thoughts and experiences.
• Creating a prototype based on the feedback received.
• Testing the prototype with the assistance of bank representatives and foreigner users.

Following CommuniCity’s principles, this pilot invited potential consumers to be involved in most of the process. By combining their knowledge and experiences, the project has structured a product that empowers new citizens to overcome challenges of the banking system.

Replication Potential

The project highlights the importance of connecting communities with technological innovators, offering them the opportunity to co-create solutions for real-life challenges and difficult scenarios. Given the interest shown by participants in developing more inclusive and intuitive administrative systems, there is potential to replicate the pilot’s methodology across-borders.

CommuniCity will continue supporting marginalised communities across Europe, as the tech pilots from the Third Round of Open Calls are now running until the end of May 2025.

As part of the CommuniCity Second Round of Open Calls, a pilot in Helsinki is advancing healthcare innovation through a sensor system designed to help prevent pressure ulcers in wheelchair users. This cutting-edge technology was developed by Suomen Digitaalinen Tehdas Oy in collaboration with Touchlab Limited, drawing on intensive co-creation efforts involving care professionals, researchers, and the pilot team.

Collaborative Innovation: A Co-Creation Success Story

The pilot aimed to refine a sensor-based system that alerts caregivers to pressure buildup on wheelchair cushions—an essential tool in preventing debilitating pressure ulcers. Over several months, the team conducted multiple co-creation workshops and on-site fittings with care professionals and end-users at Helsinki’s Kivelä Senior Centre and other locations.

Frequent and transparent communication emerged as a cornerstone of the pilot’s success. Feedback loops between developers, subcontractors, and healthcare providers allowed the team to adapt the sensor to real-world conditions, overcoming challenges such as material durability and varying wheelchair configurations. This iterative approach refined the product and strengthened trust and collaboration among stakeholders.

From Prototype to Market-Ready Solution

The pilot focused on enhancing the sensor’s usability, including ease of installation, compatibility with wheelchair cushions, and app-based controls for care professionals. These efforts resulted in a market-ready, standalone device meeting high safety, hygiene, and adaptability standards, with features like machine-washable components and robust battery performance, paving the way for wider adoption.

Next Steps

With promising results from the Helsinki pilot, the team is gearing up for further testing and development. Plans are underway to collect additional user data in collaboration with healthcare providers, ensuring the solution continues to evolve based on real-world needs.

The CommuniCity project, which supports technology pilots across Europe, has demonstrated the power of co-creation and collaboration in driving social innovation. Currently, CommuniCity is launching its Third Open Call pilots, expected to run in 16 European cities until the end of May 2025.

The CoTown Kasmoni Community Exchange pilot, part of the CommuniCity Second round of open calls, has successfully concluded its second round of piloting, bringing innovative solutions to foster social cohesion and economic empowerment in Amsterdam Zuidoost. This initiative aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goal 17 by facilitating partnerships among local corporations, governments, non-profits, and residents.

Objectives and Approach

The pilot aimed to create a community platform paired with offline activities to facilitate resource sharing, collaboration, and funding for social impact projects. Co-creation workshops and feedback sessions tailored the platform to the community’s needs. Inclusive and transparent engagement strategies addressed challenges like initial scepticism toward tech solutions.

Key Features

1. Platform Development: Designed collaboratively, the platform offers an intuitive interface, offline events, and mentoring opportunities.
2. Offline Activities: Events strengthened social connections and ensured inclusivity, with evening and small-group formats encouraging wider participation.
3. Community Engagement: Local entrepreneurs, community leaders, and residents contributed through brainstorming sessions, persona canvases, and prototype reviews.

Outcomes and Learnings

The pilot engaged over 100 participants, including key target groups. Key lessons include:

• Combining digital tools with offline activities to improve accessibility.
• Involving stakeholders early to build trust and relevance.
• Addressing legal and financial aspects before full development.
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Co-Creation Processs

The pilot’s success stemmed from its co-creation process, emphasizing collaboration and inclusivity. Highlights include:

• Diverse Participation: Community members from varied backgrounds and influential leaders fostered trust and engagement.
• Transparent Methods: Small-group activities and icebreakers ensured active participation and comfort.
• Valuable Insights: Digital solutions must pair with offline activities, and advisory components are critical for sustainable impact.

This approach ensured the platform was aligned with community needs, enhancing its potential for adoption and long-term success.

Future Plans

The CoTown Kasmoni project is gearing up for further development, with plans to:

• Secure additional funding and establish a business model with Stadsdeel ZuidOost.
• Host community events to refine the prototype.
• Build partnerships with similar initiatives for greater impact.

By prioritizing community input, this pilot offers a replicable model for fostering shared prosperity and addressing local challenges. As the Second-Round pilots reveals their results and impact across European cities, the Third Open Call pilots are now launching, running until May 2025 across 15 cities and nine countries.

How can technology address the digital skills gap among unemployed individuals? In Helsinki, Stereoscape Oy tackled this challenge by using an interactive, gamified survey tool to assess and enhance digital competencies, offering tailored training based on individual skill levels. This initiative, part of the CommuniCity Second Round of Open Calls, aimed to empower marginalized groups.

Developed in collaboration with local and international partners, the platform offered personalized assessments and was adapted for use in Porto (Portugal) and Tallinn (Estonia). The process included nine workshops and three user testing sessions, with continuous refinements based on feedback.

Key Features:

• Gamified Surveys: Personalized digital skills assessments through branched scenarios.
• Cross-border Collaboration: Adapted for diverse audiences in Helsinki, Porto, and Tallinn.

Co-Creation Process

Collaboration was central to the pilot, with input from unemployed individuals and digital trainers guiding each step. Nine workshops in Helsinki focused on platform selection, survey design, and tool testing. User testing with three groups provided valuable insights for ongoing improvements. The solution was developed in collaboration with partners in Porto and Tallinn, using tools like Mural and bi-weekly meetings to align goals and address local needs. This co-creation approach ensured the final product addressed real-world challenges, fostering ownership among participants.

Results:

• Developed a tool to assess digital skills and guide individuals toward appropriate courses.
• Identified varied skill levels, enabling tailored interventions.
• Increased engagement and provided valuable insights for trainers.

Future Steps:

• Expanding and refining the platform with partners.
• Creating instructional resources and a methodological manual to support global adoption.

This cross-border pilot in Helsinki showcases how co-creation and technology can address digital skill gaps, fostering inclusion in a technology-driven society. As the Second Round pilots reveal their results and impact across European cities, the Third Open Call pilots are now launching, running until May 2025 across 15 cities and nine countries.

How can technology break down barriers to sports participation for teenage girls? In Amsterdam, the Girls Meet Up pilot addressed this challenge by co-creating a dedicated app to help girls organise and join sports events. As part of the CommuniCity Second Round of Open Calls, this initiative aimed to empower teenage girls by tackling the social and logistical barriers that often hinder their participation in sports activities.

The app not only fostered personal development and social connections but also demonstrated the potential of community-driven technological solutions to promote inclusivity and engagement.

Pilot Overview

The Girls Meet Up pilot focused on two primary areas:

• App Development: A user-friendly mobile app was created to connect girls with sports events, coaches, and clubs in their communities. The app included features such as event organization, notifications, and a feedback loop for continuous improvement.
• Community Engagement: Co-creation sessions were held with teenage girls, sports organizations, and community leaders to ensure the app met the specific needs and preferences of its users.

Throughout the project, 12 co-creation sessions were conducted with 20 participants, including teenage girls, sports coaches, and local ambassadors. Iterative testing and refinement ensured the app remained aligned with user needs.

Results & Co-Creation Process

Teenage girls played an active role as co-designers, providing critical insights that shaped the app’s design and functionality. Workshops, prototyping sessions, and feedback loops emphasized inclusivity, usability, and relevance. This collaborative approach ensured the app resonated with its target audience and addressed their key challenges.

The Girls Meet Up app featured:

• Event Management: Tools to create and join local sports events.
• Customizable Profiles: Options for users to set preferences and receive tailored recommendations.
• Feedback Mechanisms: Continuous user input to refine the app.

The pilot highlighted the importance of fostering social connections, simplifying onboarding processes, and building community trust to sustain participation.

Building on its success in Amsterdam, the Girls Meet Up pilot plans to expand its impact across the Randstad region and other European cities. Future developments focus on refining features to enhance usability, streamlining onboarding for improved accessibility, and collaborating with more sports organizations to broaden reach and impact. This initiative highlights the transformative potential of technology and co-creation in addressing social challenges, empowering teenage girls, and fostering inclusivity through innovation.

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.

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.