On Wednesday, 28 May, from 16:00 to 17:00 CEST, the 23rd episode of the ETIN Innovation Circle focused discussion on how regional and municipal actors are driving transformative change through place-based innovation. The session explored how these locally grounded efforts are translating global ambitions, such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), into sustainable strategies tailored to specific territorial contexts. The event was moderated by Professor Alejandra (Sandra) Boni, Full Professor at the Universitat Politècnica de València and Research Fellow at INGENIO (CSIC-UPV).
Speakers:
- Stephanie Daimer, Head of Policy for Innovation and Transformation, Fraunhofer ISI
- Christian Hübel, Head of Democracy & Strategy, City of Mannheim
- The role of cities and regions in driving systemic, SDG-aligned change
- Approaches to participatory governance and inclusive innovation
- Transitioning from isolated innovation projects to integrated regional strategies
- Methods to enhance democratic legitimacy and evidence-based decision-making in Public Administration
Case Studies and Initiatives Featured:
- European Hub of the Transformative Innovation Policy Consortium (TIPC) – Supporting experimentation and learning at the regional level to advance systemic change
- Green Demo Project (Fraunhofer ISI) – Exploring democratic legitimacy in green transitions through innovation in public administration
- City of Mannheim – Developing and implementing a transformation strategy rooted in the SDGs, participatory planning, and performance-based budgeting