Are we planning for the wrong future as demographics change?

Cities face complex challenges where climate change, digitalisation and demographic shifts require systemic solutions. Individual efforts are not enough – air quality affects health, greenery affects climate adaptation, and land use planning affects both the environment and social equality. To achieve climate neutrality and create sustainable living environments, new ways of working are needed that combine technical solutions with people's needs. RISE supports municipalities and organizations in the transition to climate neutrality by offering expert support, analyses, and innovative partnerships that translate climate goals into concrete actions and strengthen the capacity for action in the long-term transition work. We work with governance innovation, system demonstrators and multifunctional climate adaptation solutions. Through Forum Samhällsbyggnad, we create meeting places for dialogue and knowledge sharing between the public sector, industry and research.

Local authorities and regions are expected to address an ever-increasing number of complex, cross-sectoral societal challenges, despite the fact that organisations and governance models are typically designed for sector-specific responsibilities and vertical governance with budgetary discipline and monitoring within clearly defined areas.

The built environment affects people's health, climate footprint and quality of life, but planning processes often lack the tools to measure and optimise sustainability, inclusion and design. Climate adaptation of cultural heritage buildings, setting requirements in land allocation and integrating ecosystem services require interdisciplinary expertise. At the same time, digitalisation and AI are opening up new opportunities for data-driven planning – but how can this technology be translated into concrete benefits? RISE supports the entire planning process, from master planning to building design, with research-based knowledge. Through the New European Bauhaus Academy, a European collaboration to make research and knowledge available for the transformation of the urban development sector, we contribute to sustainable, beautiful, and inclusive urban development. We develop AI tools for urban planning and climate adaptation and offer vulnerability analyses for buildings against extreme weather. Through training courses, workshops, and expert analyses, we help you integrate social sustainability, circularity, and climate adaptation into practice.

Adapting our cities to be better prepared for the future is perhaps one of the most challenging tasks we face. No one knows for sure how the future will unfold. It requires innovation from everyone involved, especially in cities and municipalities. But how should one proceed and where should one start? An innovation partnership with RISE is a good start to succeed in the urban societal transition.