Where It All Happens – Territories in ACTION Podcast

Can our homes and neighbourhoods be transformed for better life quality? The New European Bauhaus (NEB) initiative aims to bring together sustainability, inclusion, and beauty to reimagine the evolution of our living environments. In this episode, architect Bjarke Ingels, along with other NEB entrepreneurs, break down what the NEB truly represents. Sorcha Edwards, Secretary General of Housing Europe, guides us through the upcoming challenges regarding affordable housing, and we travel to Banská Bystrica, Slovakia, to discover how health can drive place-based transformation through the application of NEB principles.

What do institutions mean when they refer to preparedness? Being ready for a pandemic, a natural disaster, a war...? Citizens are giving meaning to preparedness in their own ways, but Europe is transforming it into a long-term vision of anticipation. In this episode, Beatriz Rios, a journalist from the Brussels bubble, helps us understand what this recurrent word means. We hear from cybersecurity expert, María Aperador, who will decode the current digital threats. And, last but not least, we travel to Andalucía, Spain, and Podkarpackie, Poland, to discover how territories are getting ready for future challenges.

Come along while we explore what circularity really means, why it matters and how is shaping Europe´s future.

We speak with Antonio Delre from the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre, who explains the difference between circularity and sustainability. We listen to Dalarna in Sweden and Normandy in France, where local actors share how circular approaches are helping transform industry and bring new life to the plastics sector. Finally, we travel to Sofia, Bulgaria, where representatives from different regions explain how the EU Preparatory Action is helping them turn their ideas into action.

How are territories breaking free from fossil fuels towards a cleaner energy future? In this episode, we hear from climate activist Pauline Brünger and innovators in Norte Portugal, and Westland, Norway, as they share their experiences and insights on how activism, renewable energy and local innovation are steering regional decarbonization towards a greener, resilient, and competitive economy.

Join us as we dive into how public services in Europe are going digital. In this episode, a teacher in France and a social worker in Germany share their insights on how technology impacts their daily work and what can be improved. We also explore the Southern Region of Ireland and Oulu, Finland—areas that aim to make public services smarter and more inclusive for everyone, including those in rural areas. Come along to discover territorial challenges and strategies on how place-based digital transformation could improve people's lives.