SEiSMiC: Enabling social innovation in European cities

This book details the systematic work and manifold outcomes of a remarkable project on urban social innovation that was supported with EU funding and designed in line with the principles of responsible research and innovation (RRI). By fostering multi-level dialogue, mutual learning processes and wide-ranging participation, SEiSMiC was able to build national and transnational bridges between citizens, scientists, policy makers and urban innovators in 10 European countries. By setting up 10 national networks, it effectively brought local needs and experiences into wider debates on urban policy and related research. SEiSMiC delivered an in-depth analysis of urban dynamics and a creative and courageous praxis within the European innovation ecosystem. It underpinned multi-actor participation processes with extensive interdisciplinary and trans-disciplinary expertise and embraced a plurality of social perspectives in a constructive experimentation with novel ideas and methodologies, while always keeping a focus on the drive to innovate. During its three years of implementation, the project served as a living and lively laboratory for urban, social and open innovation. It accomplished pioneering work on urban-related societal challenges and demonstrated its relevance for EU research and innovation, regional and urban policy and other European Commission policies related to environment, energy, mobility and transport, internal markets, industry, entrepreneurship and SMEs, education and culture, communication networks and technology. SEiSMiC is intrinsically linked to the Joint Partnership Initiative (JPI) "Urban Europe" and has made a significant contribution to the formation of the Urban Europe Forum and the development of the JPI´s Scientific Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA). These achievements place SEiSMiC at the centre of the numerous EU efforts to achieve sustainable and liveable urban futures.