Utrecht Challenges
During the third round of CommuniCity Open Calls, the Municipality of Utrecht presented two challenges and HKU one. Open and Agile Smart Cities & Communities (OASC) will award grants of up to 12,500 Euros to a maximum of three applicants. You can find the challenges below, along with evaluation criteria and details about the pilot hosts. If you have questions, please join the Info Events or check the Q&A section. Furthermore, before submitting your application, review the tips for a successful application on the “Read this first” page.
Utrecht Challenge 1: How to reduce street harassment?
Combating street harassment is a high priority for the Municipality of Utrecht. Being stared at, insulted, cornered or groped are all forms of street harassment. The fear of experiencing intimidating or transgressive (sexual) behavior often leads victims to modify their behavior, avoid specific locations or social interactions.
The Municipality of Utrecht is seeking a technological solution to raise awareness, encourage positive behavior, and initiate dialogue about street harassment among residents, professionals, and other stakeholders. The city has gained significant experience in addressing street harassment, developing a practical offline toolkit and educational programs in schools. The municipality now seeks to develop a technological solution to reach target groups in a different way. Instead of focusing on victims, the municipality focuses on changing the behavior of offenders. This involves addressing the root causes of harassment by raising awareness and challenging the normalisation of such behavior
Applicants must show they collaborate with a social organisation familiar with the target group. A letter of intent is welcome but not required. Co-creation in the group’s language, Dutch, is essential. Furthermore, pilot team must organise these sessions with the organisation’s support in Utrecht. The City of Utrecht has a role only in launching, monitoring and evaluating the pilot. This challenge scheme operates as a contest, and if the pilot is successful, the City of Utrecht may procure or further develop the solution without initiating a new tender.
The City of Utrecht is hosting one pilot in collaboration between the safety and social departments.
Minimum scores and weightings:
1. Impact
Minimum score: 2 | Weighting: 40%
2. Implementation quality and efficiency
Minimum score: 2 | Weighting: 10%
3. Excellence
Minimum score: 2 | Weighting: 10%
4. Co-creation
Minimum score: 2 | Weighting: 40%
Utrecht Challenge 2: How to foster inclusion?
The City of Utrecht strives to be an inclusive city where everyone feels seen, heard, and valued. However, discrimination and exclusion persist in areas like education, employment, and public spaces. Understanding systems of inclusion and exclusion, privilege, discrimination, and racism is crucial for building an inclusive city.
The City of Utrecht is seeking a technological solution to combat or prevent discrimination, foster conscience and mutual understanding, and increase positive and safe interactions among community members. The objective of this challenge is to enhance awareness of privileged Utrecht residents and foster cross-community engagement. The municipality aims to broaden its outreach efforts to include traditionally underserved communities and promote inclusivity.
Applicants must show they collaborate with a social organisation familiar with the target group. A letter of intent is welcome but not required. Co-creation in the group’s language, Dutch, is essential. Furthermore, pilot team must organise these sessions with the organisation’s support in Utrecht. The City of Utrecht has a role only in launching, monitoring and evaluating the pilot. This challenge scheme operates as a contest, and if the pilot is successful, the City of Utrecht may procure or further develop the solution without initiating a new tender.
The City of Utrecht’s team: ‘Utrecht for Everyone/Utrecht voor Iedereen’ (at the department of ‘Social Development/Maatschappelijke Ontwikkeling’), is hosting one pilot.
Minimum scores and weightings:
1. Impact
Minimum score: 2 | Weighting: 25%
2. Implementation quality and efficiency
Minimum score: 2 | Weighting: 15%
3. Excellence
Minimum score: 1 | Weighting: 15%
4. Co-creation
Minimum score: 3 | Weighting: 45%
5. Technology
No minimum score | Weighting: 20%
HKU Challenge 1: How can a personalised calendar empower autistic students?
People with autism are very different from one another. Some may struggle to plan, but others can manage just fine. What most of them do have in common is that they can easily become overstimulated and overloaded.
The autism community at the Utrecht University of the Arts seeks a technological solution that empowers neurodiverse individuals to monitor their personal limits, manage energy levels, and optimise their schedules. The solution could be a personalised, self-learning calendar that gives suggestions to its owner, but also other solutions are welcomed.
The autism community at HKU, Utrecht University of the Arts, will host the pilot and serve as the collaboration partner. Founded to support autistic students, this community fosters connections through themed meetings and app groups, promoting belonging, empowerment, and recognition.
Co-creation in the group’s language (Dutch) and on location in Utrecht is essential. The community of students with autism at HKU will host one pilot.
Minimum scores and weightings:
1. Impact
Minimum score: 2 | Weighting: 40%
2. Implementation quality and efficiency
Minimum score: 1 | Weighting: 25%
3. Excellence
Minimum score: 1 | Weighting: 5%
4. Co-creation
Minimum score: 2 | Weighting: 25%
5. Technology
Minimum score 1 | Weighting: 5%