Adapting our cities to be better prepared for the future is perhaps one of the most challenging tasks we face. No one knows for sure how the future will unfold. It requires innovation from everyone involved, especially in cities and municipalities. But how should one proceed and where should one start? An innovation partnership with RISE is a good start to succeed in the urban societal transition.
- Working on the transition in a city or municipality involves so many different activities and areas in the city, which requires resources and collaborations that one might not be used to, ranging from organizational development, mobility, strategy, and innovation support to the actual transition capability in the operations. But this is exactly what RISE are experts in, and we help municipalities and cities with this work today in many different ways, says Maja Manner, Business Development Manager Cities at RISE.
Why the transition needs to happen now
Cities today account for approximately 70% of global carbon dioxide emissions, despite occupying only about 3% of the Earth's land area. About 56% of the world's population currently lives in cities, and this is expected to increase to nearly 70% by 2050, according to UN forecasts described in the IPCC report.
- Change must accelerate and quickly if we are to meet our climate goals. Therefore, it is important to get started and know how to move forward. If we look at Malmö, for example, one of the cities that RISE has supported through innovation partnerships for a long time, they have a clear plan to be climate neutral by 2030. It is an ambitious goal, but they have realized that it is possible, says Maja Manner.
Our offer:
Many find it reassuring and straightforward to work systematically through an innovation partnership.
Innovation Partnership - a close collaboration with continuity
An innovation partnership with RISE enables expert support, analyses, and innovative solutions that create tangible results for both the municipality and its residents. Maja Manner explains how it works:
- Many find it reassuring and straightforward to work systematically through an innovation partnership. It is a broad collaboration that encompasses all RISE competencies, where you can access 3000 experts in everything from energy, mobility, and transition to organizational development and strategy, she says and continues:
- The major advantage is the continuity of the collaboration and the ability to create long-term relationships, instead of just working with individual efforts. There is a systematic approach and close cooperation between us who work together. Compared to a framework agreement, it becomes more like an ongoing conversation, making research, development, and innovation issues easier to manage. Many of our partners also highlight the advantage of having access to the entire RISE expertise.
RISE's innovation partnership agreement is based on the R&D provision in the procurement law (formerly known as the R&D exemption). This primarily means that research, development, and innovation services within the framework of the partnership should lead to greater societal benefits and not just benefit the individual actor/partner. Additionally, some form of co-investment is required, where we jointly identify needs to delve into.
- For us, innovation partnership agreements are about establishing long-term relationships in research, development, and innovation where we jointly define and explore needs and their solutions to then spread to more, says Maja Manner and continues:
- Once the partnership agreement is in place and we know which issues we want to address, projects or ideas crystallize where RISE, together with the municipality or city, jointly tackle challenges and needs. This can result in project descriptions where we work together to find solutions. The work can also lead to joint research applications, a joint conference, and more. We always ensure to staff competent teams with the right expertise based on relevant subjects. As much as possible, we build on established research and refine methods, ideas, processes, as well as technical solutions.
Support and security in decision-making
Within RISE, there are thousands of experts in everything from energy and digitalization to infrastructure, water, sustainable construction, innovation management, and more.
- By collaborating with us, you also benefit from the experience and knowledge we bring from other contexts and examples from research. This means that as a municipality or city, you get the basis and support in decision-making. Additionally, there is the possibility of having only one contact person with us, which facilitates the work for many.
Finally, Maja Manner mentions that the challenges are often similar even if the cities or municipalities are different.
- Many cities and municipalities find the issue of transition complex. Where should we start, how should we do it, do we have the resources, who can help us? You need support in these questions, and RISE's broad expertise is truly a smart, efficient, and secure way forward, she concludes.
>> Please contact Maja Manner if your organization needs support in transition work: maja.manner@ri.se
How RISE can support your organization in societal transition – read more:
Examples of what an innovation partnership with RISE can consist of:
- Translating climate goals into concrete actions through mapping the current situation, identifying strategic choices, and developing feasible roadmaps.
- Developing innovation capability and capacity to drive change through process management, skills development, and support in new business models and financing solutions.
- Creating sustainable solutions in collaboration with municipal companies, businesses, and civil society to ensure long-term anchoring and impact.
- Accessing expertise in energy transition, circular economy, sustainable construction, mobility, and water management to enable a holistic climate transition.
