The University of Granada, through Medialab UGR, will play an active role in the 23rd edition of the European Week of Regions and Cities (EWRC), the largest annual event dedicated to regional policy in Europe, which will take place in Brussels from 13 to 15 October 2025. This event brings together policymakers, academics, experts, and engaged citizens committed to regional development, to exchange best practices, build collaborative networks, and explore innovative solutions to the territorial challenges faced by Europe.
As part of this edition, the University of Granada is co-organising one of the key sessions, focused on the transformative role of universities in their territories. With a practical approach based on real-world experiences, the session will address how higher education institutions can act as drivers of social innovation, sustainability, and economic development in both urban and rural regions. It is an exceptional opportunity to highlight initiatives such as Impronta Granada, which are already making a tangible contribution to building regional ecosystems of knowledge and action.
A European session with diverse university participation
The session “Universities, Regions and Municipalities: Co-Creating Pathways for Urban and Territorial Transformation” will take place on Tuesday 14 October 2025, from 14:00 to 15:30 CET in Brussels (Square Brussels, 213-215). It will be moderated by a researcher recognised by his work in territorial innovation:
- Esteban Romero Frías (University of Granada, Spain): Vice-Rector for Social Innovation, Employability and Entrepreneurship, specialist in public and social innovation, and director of initiatives bridging knowledge and society.
Throughout the session, experiences will be presented by universities committed to their local and regional environments which have already worked together on Erasmus+ projects such as ENGAGEgreen or Urban Imprint:
- Ada Domingo Ferrer (University of Vic – Central University of Catalonia, Spain): Senior Governance for Sustainability Officer at BETA Tech Center, with experience in scientific cooperation and science diplomacy.
- Stefano Campostrini (Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, Italy): Full Professor of Social and Health Statistics and Director of the Governance & Social Innovation Center.
- José Carlos Mota (University of Aveiro, Portugal): Professor and researcher in citizen participation, urban planning, and sustainable territories.
These contributions will showcase models and methodologies to strengthen the relationship between science, citizens, and public administrations, within a Europe increasingly oriented towards co-creating policies and solutions through knowledge.
Why participate?
This session offers a unique platform to:
- Discover European good practices on university-territory connections.
- Understand how to apply the Living Labs, co-creation, and science-for-policy approaches at a regional level.
- Expand European collaboration networks with universities, governments, and social organisations.
- Position Granada as an international reference in university-driven territorial innovation.
How to register?
Participation in this session is completely free and registration is available via the following link.
We also strongly encourage you to explore the full programme of the European Week of Regions and Cities here.
We hope you can be part of this European dialogue on the transformative role of universities in our territories!
#EURegionsWeek
