Join the Healthy Cities Call Info Session

This online info session will take a deep-dive into the project scope, objectives, and award criteria of the Healthy Cities Targeted Project Call. During the session, you will learn about the call timeline, the application, and evaluation process, and much more.

Why a call on healthy cities?

Most Europeans live in cities, with the proportion of the urban population continually growing. Higher population density has meant more pollution. In fact, in 2020, over 200,000 deaths were due to excessive exposure to pollution. An integrated approach to urban planning is needed to tackle climate change and create healthy urban areas.

The benefits of investing in developing healthy cities are multi-faceted. Disincentivising car use and promoting cycling, walking and public transport creates safer public spaces, reduces accidents and pollution. Additionally, it has positive knock-on effects for a city’s economy and its residents. Indeed studies show a significant return on investment as a result of bicycle infrastructure implementation ([1], [2]).

Much research has been done into how to measure policies’ effect on long-term health of residents, but there is still no way of comparing impacts of different policies quickly and objectively, making it difficult to optimise city planning.

About Targeted Projects

The Targeted Projects Programme has recently been initiated to address gaps in the innovation portfolio in regard to the business plan, strategic agenda, and external changes such as technological developments, policies/regulations, and (urgent) events.

[1] Hämeentie Bikenomics Report | CIVITAS Handshake (handshakecycling.eu)

[2] PASTA (pastaproject.eu)