Research stakeholder group

Urbanization, globalization and climate change are major issues that affect and will affect the way we live. At the same time, they encourage us to create new solutions that can lead to a healthier and more sustainable urban life. Research and innovation (R&I) play a big role into this process, which combines technological, environmental, physical, economic and social aspects and calls for new mechanisms for adapting, applying and developing solutions. However, these challenges require increasingly coordinated strategies and actions, with the involvement of stakeholders at all levels, and cooperation within and amongst countries and across sectors and disciplines. R&I networks are essential in this context, not only to facilitate research development and knowledge exchange, but also to get a better understanding of the complexity of the challenges and of how to replicate solutions, coordinate priorities and, whenever possible, find a common voice in the dialogue with policy makers, consumers, industry and other key stakeholders. What is the role of R&I to supporting the development of a smart city? Can researchers, and R&I networks, facilitate social participation? What is, and can be, the added value of R&I networks in the governance of smart cities? These are some of the questions addressed by this round table, which gathers the contribution of representatives of the largest energy research network in Europe, the European Energy Research Alliance (EERA).