Understanding the Exploitation Plan and Business Model in EU-funded Research Projects by Applying the Business Model Canvas Approach in Public Space

European Commission has obliged Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe beneficiaries to specify the dissemination and exploitation of their funded activities’ outcomes. In this way, research results can be extended to benefit the wider society. However, beneficiaries have difficulties meeting these goals due to the overlap between dissemination and exploitation and the uncertainty of how to translate research activities and outputs into socio-economic benefits for the society. This paper developed a framework based on the business model canvas to operationalise an approach to exploitation. The framework was tested within the EU-funded research project C3Places in the fields of urban planning and sustainable spatial development. The resulting reference framework can be used as a guideline for the design and development of research project exploitation plans. It is especially valuable for projects in the fields which usually do not have ‘sellable’ or even marketable outcomes and products but rather result in soft measures and recommendations for public policies. Accordingly, it can support the decision-making processes of both policymakers and private organisations

Green spaces – a key resources for urban sustainability. The GreenKeys approach for developing green spaces

Following the principles of sustainable development all urban development programmes set down ideas and ideals to develop our cities in a more long-lasting way, especially concerning the environment and the social dimension. These programmes result from a process of searching for and then offering a better quality of life. Green space assumes a key role for improving the quality of urban life - not only because of their ecological and environmental functions but also of their relevance for public health, societal well-being and economic benefits they can provide. Urban green spaces are therefore key resources for sustainable cities. Starting with this principle the GreenKeys Project developed a methodology to approach better green space qualities. Then if we are unable to demonstrate effectively the value that green spaces deliver we risk green spaces remaining on the periphery of public policy priorities and unable to attract more resources. The article presents and discusses the results and outcomes of the GreenKeys Project. Especially the GreenKeys proposal for supporting the formulation of an Urban Green Space Strategy is widely discussed

Towards the Evaluation of Possible Indicators for the Provision of Green Spaces in Settlements to Promote Physical Activity among the Population

Publicly accessible and usable green spaces in cities and smaller settlements are important for promoting physical activity and consequently for maintaining and improving public health. Adequate provision of such spaces is crucial for planning of a quality living environment. Research to date has identified different aspects in linking public health and green spaces. However, the problems of existing approaches and methods include inconsistencies in evaluating different aspects of public spaces for physical activity, lack of inclusion of social and health benefits of green spaces in green space indicators, and lack of integrated approaches towards defining the provision of green spaces to promote physical activity. Accordingly, a solid spatially explicit indicator for assessing the provision of settlements with green spaces for physical activity is non-existent. The purpose of this paper is to present the literature review and methodological framework developed within the Slovenian research project titled Development of indicators for the assessment of the provision of settlements with green spaces for outdoor physical activity that addresses aspects of public green spaces and related indicators for assessing the adequacy of the conditions provided by urban green spaces for different types of physical activity. We have defined three basic types of physical activity, namely: activities that are carried out in one place, activities that cover distance for leisure of recreation, and activities that cover distance to reach a goal (i.e., daily active mobility). Guided by this definition, we conducted a literature review to examine: (1) which spatial aspects of enabling or promoting physical activity are addressed by existing green space indicators, (2) to which spatial scale and to which spatial planning levels are indicators linked and, (3) whether indicators address different types of physical activity. Based on the findings, suggestions are made to develop a more spatially explicit indicator to assess the provision of green spaces in settlements for the three types of physical activity. Such an indicator can strengthen the long-term monitoring of the condition of publicly accessible green spaces for recreational use by the population

CyberParks: The interface between people, places and technology

This open access book is about public open spaces, about people, and about the relationship between them and the role of technology in this relationship. It is about different approaches, methods, empirical studies, and concerns about a phenomenon that is increasingly being in the centre of sciences and strategies – the penetration of digital technologies in the urban space. As the main outcome of the CyberParks Project, this book aims at fostering the understanding about the current and future interactions of the nexus people, public spaces and technology. It addresses a wide range of challenges and multidisciplinary perspectives on emerging phenomena related to the penetration of technology in people’s lifestyles - affecting therefore the whole society, and with this, the production and use of public spaces. Cyberparks coined the term cyberpark to describe the mediated public space, that emerging type of urban spaces where nature and cybertechnologies blend together to generate hybrid experiences and enhance quality of life

From Intention to Implementation of Vertical Green: The Case of Ljubljana

This article examines the need and opportunities to implement vertical green in Ljubljana as a case of a medium-sized European city with a relatively green feel. Sustainability-oriented urban development supports the introduction of nature-based solutions in principle; however, there is a lack of vertical green as well as actual legislative and administrative support. Therefore, several methods were applied in the present study to link this idea to execution, starting with semi-structured interviews and a workshop for selected city officials. Legislative and formal backgrounds for implementation were then assessed. An inventory of green façades and other structures (e.g., noise barriers and retaining walls) in Ljubljana was prepared, and a geographic information system-based decision support system was developed to identify the potential areas in the city where additional green space elements would be most favourable for humans, the environment, and climate indicators. The results reveal a gap between opportunities and the actual situation. The general opinion that there is never too much green space in urban areas is confirmed by direct information from the city administration and strategic documents. There are many potential sites for implementation; however, this is hindered by ownership, management, and economic issues. The study concludes with some suggestions for following the best practices in other central European capitals, such as Vienna and Berlin

From Intention to Implementation of Vertical Green: The Case of Ljubljana

This article examines the need and opportunities to implement vertical green in Ljubljana as a case of a medium-sized European city with a relatively green feel. Sustainability-oriented urban development supports the introduction of nature-based solutions in principle; however, there is a lack of vertical green as well as actual legislative and administrative support. Therefore, several methods were applied in the present study to link this idea to execution, starting with semi-structured interviews and a workshop for selected city officials. Legislative and formal backgrounds for implementation were then assessed. An inventory of green façades and other structures (e.g., noise barriers and retaining walls) in Ljubljana was prepared, and a geographic information system-based decision support system was developed to identify the potential areas in the city where additional green space elements would be most favourable for humans, the environment, and climate indicators. The results reveal a gap between opportunities and the actual situation. The general opinion that there is never too much green space in urban areas is confirmed by direct information from the city administration and strategic documents. There are many potential sites for implementation; however, this is hindered by ownership, management, and economic issues. The study concludes with some suggestions for following the best practices in other central European capitals, such as Vienna and Berlin

Is the mediated public open space a smart place? Relationships between urban landscapes and ICT – The cost action tu 1306 CyberParks

The main aim of this work is to rise the challenge of relentless growth of digital technologies into our daily life. Smart phones, smart watches, tablets, etc and Internet have become common tools is several fields of human activities, connecting, guiding, informing, and in a last stance making people interconnected and informed. Public open spaces (POS) (such as, parks, gardens, squares, plazas) would greatly benefit by this growing availability of relevant geolocated information. Therefore, our aim is to unfold two main questions: how can we use digital technologies to attract people to spend more time outdoors for a more active lifestyle; and what opportunities technology opens to increase knowledge about users and uses of public open spaces? The discussion is backed by experience exchanges carried out within the Cyberparks Project and articulates around the ICT potential to enhance communication among (potential) users, transforming public open spaces production an interactive process. Such improved interactivity, on a turn, enables creative community participation, empowerment and capacity building. Besides a discussion on the mobile technology for human interaction with spaces, this paper presents an overview of the possible technological benefits for users, policy makers, practitioners and planners

The use of ICT in Public Open Spaces: some insights

The most relevant aspect of the ICT lays in their ability to enhance communication with (potential) users, transforming the production of public open spaces into an interactive process, and enabling creative community participation and empowerment. Besides a brief introduction to mobile apps as a way of interaction between people, space and technology, the benefits of technologies for both users and planners are discussed. The first analysis shows that ICT enable innovative outdoor social practices, which challenge spatial and social experts to use them in design, policies, and research aiming at the production of more responsive and inclusive urban places