Intelligent Cities Challenge Conference & Mayors

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The North-West Ireland City Region present at the ICC final conference in Brussels

10 March 2025 - DEUICC project

Representatives of the North West Ireland City Region team

On 5-6 March, hundreds of participants gathered in Brussels for the final Intelligent Cities Challenge Conference & Mayors – Business Forum, marking the conclusion of the ICC (2022-2025 edition).

The event opened with insights from the European Commission on the ICC's achievements and the new EU Clean Industrial Deal, emphasizing cities' crucial role in decarbonisation and competitiveness. Clean tech emerged as a central theme, with discussions highlighting cities as innovation hubs driving industrial transformation.

The North-West Ireland City Region was well represented at the final Conference. Delegates from Derry City & Strabane District Council and Donegal County Council, including Cathaoirleach of Donegal, Cllr Kennedy Niamh, showcased two local green deals:

Strabane Positive Energy District
Grow Eat Compost Repeat

During the Mayors Conference a Special Mention award went to North-West Ireland Region for two very impactful LGDs involving a wide range of stakeholders and convincing horizontal approach. Honouring one excellent LGD “Grow, Eat, Compost, Repeat: Empowering Communities in Soil regeneration” with a very high number of partners; and a second LGD on “Positive Energy District” addressing Energy Efficiency, Renewable Energy Sources, and Electric Mobility with a broad and integrated approach.

Experts underscored cities’ pivotal role in clean tech growth, with examples from Dunkerque (France) and Puertollano (Spain). Key takeaways included the importance of political leadership, strategic partnerships, and sustainable governance. As Dana Eleftheriadou (DG GROW) noted, "ICC is only the beginning; we must continue driving sustainable change."

Find out more:
ICC Conference: From Challenge to Change - Recap of day 1
ICC Conference: From Challenge to Change - Recap of day 2

Adam Goodall from DCSDC presenting at the Conference

Click here to email Maixa Zabaleta at ERNACT for further information

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