Our 5 takeaways from the UNIC Thematic Conference in Istanbul
From June 17 to 19, our researchers Audrey Lebas and Uttara Purandare attended the UNIC Thematic Conference hosted by Koç University in Istanbul. Here are our five key takeaways.
UNIC (The European University of Cities in Post-Industrial Transition) is an alliance of ten European universities working together to foster innovative teaching, engaged research, and city-university collaboration in post-industrial urban contexts.
1. Teaching cases as a bridge between research and practice
At the Smart City Institute (HEC Liège), we are currently developing a series of teaching cases for the UNIC alliance, focusing on how cities from the alliance develop and implement sustainable and smart strategies while engaging local stakeholders.
The conference was an opportunity to organize a dedicated workshop to discuss our first case, centred on the city of Liège and its food policy. This case examines how a local, sustainability-oriented policy emerges through complex interactions between public authorities and civil society actors.
Building on Actor-Network Theory and public leadership frameworks, the case highlights how policies are not simply “designed” but are progressively constructed through networks of actors, negotiations, and shared problem framings. In particular, it shows the critical role played by civil society in shaping the agenda, mobilizing resources, and ensuring legitimacy.
The workshop discussions confirmed the relevance of such cases as pedagogical tools while providing valuable feedback.
2. Urban Climate Collab: making collaboration actionable in Cork
We also attended a session presented by University College Cork on their Urban Climate Collab project.
This project focuses on strengthening collaboration between universities and municipalities to accelerate climate action in cities. It combines research with direct engagement through partnerships with local authorities—particularly Cork City Council, a participant in the EU Mission for climate-neutral cities. Its objective is not only to study collaboration, but to test and refine concrete methods that support action-oriented partnerships for sustainability.
As working closely with municipalities is part of our DNA at the Smart City Institute, we particularly appreciated the strong practical orientation of this project. It goes beyond theoretical reflection and provides actionable insights into how collaboration can be structured and sustained over time.
3. Rethinking the role of universities in a changing world
A workshop led by Erasmus University Rotterdam focused on City–University engagement within UNIC. It raised a central question: what is the role of universities in addressing societal challenges?
The discussion emphasized that universities are no longer only knowledge producers and that they should seek for impact through four interconnected missions: research, education, institutional engagement and students’ involvement.
A particularly striking aspect of this workshop was its forward-looking perspective: as artificial intelligence transforms knowledge production, universities must increasingly demonstrate their value through impact, engagement, and co-creation—more than through the quotation factor related to their academic publications.
4. Measuring urban resilience in Poland: from concept to operational tools
The University of Lodz presented their Urban Resilience Index—an increasingly central concept in the context of post-industrial and climate-related challenges.
Their approach illustrates how resilience can be operationalised through interdisciplinary methods combining data analysis, modelling tools and the integration of environmental, social, and infrastructural indicators.
This tool helps cities better understand how urban systems respond to shocks (e.g. climate risks, demographic changes) and support evidence-based planning and decision-making.
What makes this approach particularly relevant is its applicability to medium-sized and transitioning cities, such as many municipalities in Belgium. It demonstrates that resilience is not just a conceptual framework but can be translated into practical diagnostic and planning instruments for local governments.
5. UNIC: an alliance gaining momentum
Beyond individual sessions, the conference clearly illustrated the growing maturity of the UNIC alliance.
As explained in this article from the UNIC team at ULiège, UNIC has evolved from a network of institutional cooperation into a platform for building genuine interdisciplinary scientific communities at the European scale.
