Rethinking Co-Creation of Digital and Environmental Policy in Systems of Multilevel Governance
The University of Agder (UiA) is located in the southern region of Norway. The three central missions of Universitetet i Agder (UiA) in Norway are education, research, and a commitment to societal development.
Research at UiA is driven by the objective of creating knowledge that contributes to sustainable development and address critical challenges of our time. The university places a strong emphasis on areas such as artificial intelligence, renewable energy, health innovation, and education technology.
UiA is known for its commitment to knowledge dissemination and capacity building. It actively engages with local communities, industries, and international networks, ensuring that research and education contribute meaningfully to societal growth and development. The university also provides modern facilities and a vibrant social environment that supports a rich academic and cultural experience for students and scientific staff.
As coordinator of the RECODE MLG project, UiA plays a central role as responsible for overseeing the successful implementation of the project. This entails facilitating collaboration among partners, ensuring that objectives are met within set timelines, and maintaining the highest standards of quality in deliverables. UiA will ensure a strong foundation for achieving the project's goals and maximizing its impact.
The project is coordinated by Prof. Amanda Machin from UIA.
More information: https://www.uia.no/english/index.html
The University of Groningen is an internationally oriented university with a rich academic tradition. Since the establishment in 1614, the university has brought forward striving academics, like the first female student, the first Dutch astronaut and various Nobel prize winners.
Geographically, the University is rooted in the Northern part of the Netherlands, a region very close to its heart. We connect education and research with sustainable and economic processes within society. This comes together in our three spearheads: Energy, Healthy Ageing and Sustainable Society.
Building on interdisciplinary expertise in the area of multilevel governance, the University of Groningen will contribute to RECODE MLG focusing primarily on the role of city networks in the twin transition.
Founded in 1386, the University of Heidelberg is Germany’s oldest academic institution and a leading European research center, integrating advanced methodologies to address scientific and societal challenges.
Twin transition presents distinct challenges for both rural and urban areas. As part of the RECODE MLG project, the University of Heidelberg examines the dynamics of multi-level governance and assesses both the opportunities and challenges for the co-creation of twin transition in rural, urban, and peri-urban areas to enhance scientific understanding and political awareness of territorial inequalities and transitions.
With its renowned expertise in environmental, climate, and energy governance, the University of Heidelberg will lead Work Package 4, collaborating closely with the Metropolitan Region Rhine-Neckar.
Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu (ULBS) aims to be a leading institution in education and research while actively contributing to various communities. By leveraging regional resources, it seeks to create a meaningful international impact.
The university’s mission is to achieve excellence in education and research by embracing global technological advancements and fostering innovation. It is also committed to sustainability, adaptability, and strong community integration, aspiring to become a green institution.
ULBS is a member of the FORTHEM Alliance, alongside eight other universities from Germany, France, Finland, Poland, Italy, Latvia, Spain, and Norway. This alliance seeks to cultivate a new generation of open-minded Europeans capable of collaborating across languages, borders, and disciplines to address societal challenges and bridge skill gaps across Europe.
Located in a medieval city with over 800 years of history, ULBS benefits from its rich cultural heritage. Sibiu was named European Capital of Culture in 2007 and the European Region of Gastronomy in 2019. It remains a dynamic cultural hub, hosting numerous events, including the Sibiu International Theatre Festival, the largest of its kind in Eastern Europe.
Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu (ULBS) plays a key role in the RECODE Project, contributing to its outreach, dissemination, and public engagement efforts. As part of its responsibilities, ULBS is responsible for developing, monitoring, and refining a communication, dissemination, and exploitation strategy to ensure the project’s objectives, findings, and deliverables reach the right audience through effective channels. This strategy spans the entire project duration, outlining key messages, identifying target audiences, and selecting appropriate communication platforms.
Building on 600 years’ experience, the Université catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain) is today a multisite university in Belgium at the forefront of innovation and excellence in education and research. The university involves more than 30,000 students of 123 different nationalities and a staff of about 6,700 teachers, researchers and administrative and technical collaborators. UCLouvain is responsible for the education of nearly one out of two French-speaking academics in Belgium and proposes courses in all possible disciplines. It is ranked among the top 200 universities in the world and first among Belgian francophone universities. Research is one of UCLouvain’s main activities with €242M in annual research and development investment. More than 1000 research contracts are signed every year with universities, public institutions and private companies. UCLouvain is a member of the European University Circle U. Research is organised via distinct yet complementary research entities: 22 research institutes, research centres, technology platforms. UCLouvain is an active member of the European Euraxess network. Since 2011, the university has been awarded the 'HR Excellence Research’ label by Euraxess.
At UCLouvain, the RECODE-MLG project is coordinated by Prof. Min Reuchamps from the Institute of Political Science Louvain-Europe (ISPOLE).
More information: https://www.uclouvain.be/en and https://www.uclouvain.be/en/research-institutes/ispole
The Metropolitan Region Rhine-Neckar (MRN), based on a State Treaty between Baden-Württemberg, Hesse, and Rhineland-Palatinate, coordinates regional initiatives and stakeholders. It takes an active role in addressing regional needs through networking, co-creation, and sustainable development. The MRN, has fields of action in digitalization, smart cities, innovation, and social economy to foster a resilient future.
We collaborate with key stakeholders—including municipalities, businesses, and academic institutions—to enhance the region’s international reputation. Close cooperation ensures that the Rhine-Neckar region remains one of Europe’s most attractive and competitive locations. One key area is supporting the green and digital transition by bringing together expertise from different sectors.
Metropolregion Rhein-Neckar – eine Allianz starker Partner
Agder County Municipality (ACM) is the politically-elected body at the regional level in the southern part of Norway. The main responsibilities of ACM are: Education (e.g. upper secondary schools and vocational training), public health and dental clinics, business development, regional planning, transport and communications, cultural activities, and heritage.
Read more about ACM here: https://agderfk.no/om-oss/agder-county-council-at-a-glance/
ACM is together with the Rhine-Neckar region in Germany one of two regional authorities and non-academic partners in the project. In terms of roles, the ACM functions as policy maker, tester/validator of approaches and ideas, and also contributes to communication, dissemination and engagement.
ACM will be involved through its Department for Co-creation and Internationalization, related to the regional MLG framework #vårt Agder.
ACM will mainly contribute to the following WPs:
WP 4: Rural and (Peri-)Urban environments for Twin Transition
ACM will together with the Rhine-Neckar region in Germany be an object of surveys and Interviews/Workshops to identify ”what works” in MLG of the twin transition and how to include citizens and stakeholders alongside policymakers.
WP7: Co-Creation Labs
ACM will organise a single country MLG Co-Creation Lab based on the findings from WP4.
The University of Lausanne (UNIL) aims to be accessible to everyone and to provide high-quality education, all in an open and secure environment. It aims to support its students in their transition to employment and to ensure that society benefits from its activities.
UNIL is at the service of public authorities, the economy and cultural circles and is committed to supporting the development of socially relevant skills through the education it offers. It shares scientifically rigorous expertise and participates in public debate: https://www.unil.ch/unil/en/home/menuinst/universite/vision-strategique.html
UNIL is firmly committed to an ecological and social transition that meets the challenges of our time. The aim is to implement all the processes necessary to enable the University to operate within the planetary boundaries while fulfilling its social mission: https://www.unil.ch/unil/en/home/menuinst/universite/transition-ecologique.html
This project has received funding from the European Union’s H2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 101177521.
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union. The European Union can not be held responsible for them.
