Project Event in Milan: Insights on Advancing Circular Urban Economies

The FOCUS project participated in the DUT project event in Milan, sharing insights from the project and exploring new approaches to circular urban economies. The event offered a valuable forum for collaboration, learning and innovation on the path toward more sustainable and inclusive cities.

During early autumn, FOCUS project members Cameron Kennett and Riccardo Prandi took part in the Driving Urban Transitions (DUT) project event in Milan. Representing the FOCUSE project, they engaged in workshops, poster sessions and group discussions connected to the Circular Urban Economy (CUE) call. The event brought together researchers and practitioners from across Europe to share knowledge, compare methodologies and explore pathways towards more sustainable urban transitions.

Key Insights from the Sessions

Learning across sectors

Cameron highlights the value of exchanging experiences with projects tackling similar challenges:

The two-day event was extremely informative. I learned a lot from colleagues about their projects and how they apply approaches and methodologies similar to those used in FOCUSE—yet in different contexts, such as the construction sector.

Exploring urban side streams

Riccardo emphasises the inspiration that came from cross-disciplinary dialogue:

I really enjoyed the sessions that opened up thought-provoking discussions on sustainability and how we can tap into the many side streams of cities to contribute to a higher quality of life, equality, environmental sustainability and accessibility to essential services.

A Collaborative Platform for Learning and Progress

The Milan event marked an important opportunity to reconnect since the first DUT project meeting in Brussels. Participants shared both achievements and challenges, creating a transparent environment for learning. A central theme throughout the event was project longevity—how to maintain momentum and ensure that results continue to generate value long after a project’s formal end.

For Cameron and Riccardo, this reflection was both timely and energising, reinforcing the importance of collaboration and continuous learning within Europe’s sustainability community.

Looking Ahead: Reflections

Cameron:
It was a real pleasure to attend the event, represent FOCUSE, meet new researchers, industry representatives and practitioners, while contributing to ideas and innovations within the DUT’s CUE thematic session. This kind of engagement is not only great fun—it is essential for moving towards a sustainable future that we all part of.

Riccardo:
As Cameron mentioned, participating in the sessions and having the opportunity to share our experiences—both successes and barriers—was a wonderful way to connect with other projects and learn how to overcome challenges. This was my first DUT event, and it was incredibly informative and truly enjoyable.