As part of the Support Services for EU Smart communities, the European Commission has the goal to “Increase Digitalisation Awareness & Readiness of EU Communities”. The aim of this initiative is to support EU communities at the early stages or that have not yet begun their digital transformation journey by providing resources, best practices, and training to develop digital strategies.

BBSR, Federal Institute for Research on Building, Urban Affairs and Spatial Development is contributing to this initiative as a member of the Smart Communities Network: the network of networks endorsed by the European Commission, whose primary goal is to involve all EU local communities in the European green and digital transformation.

On 17 October 2024, with the support of a consortium of organisations, the BBSR, Federal Institute for Research on Building, Urban Affairs and Spatial Developmentheld a hybrid dissemination session (in German) to engage with their cities and local communities and enhance the awareness and preparedness of German communities in their digital and green transition journey.

Above you can find the presentation that was displayed during the session.

Find all the details about the event here

As a follow-up to this hybrid event, online training sessions, which provided a practical approach to the topics covered during the event held in October 2024, are organised:

(Find the materials below – German and English)

The three online training sessions are as follows:

Phase 1 | Planning

• Date: December 4th, 2024
• Time: 15:00 CET
• Location: Online

In this session, explore how digitalisation can advance the EU Green Deal’s objectives. Gain insights into planning your digital strategy using the LORDIMAS tool and develop a roadmap tailored to your community’s needs.

Register for this Session Here  

Phase 2 | Preparation

• Date: December 11th, 2024
• Time: 15:00 CET
• Location: Online

This session focuses on the infrastructure needed to bring your digitalisation roadmap to life. Learn how to implement Local Digital Platforms and Twins using Minimum Interoperability Mechanisms and open-source tools.

Register for this Session Here  

Phase 3 | Empowerment

• Date: January 14th, 2025
• Time: 15:00 CET
• Location: Online

Discover how the Living-in.EU community and its network can support your green and digital transition through shared knowledge, EU tools, and peer exchange. Gain insights into funding opportunities and the application process.

Register for this Session Here