Expertise

We work with cities to define clear, place-based visions and translate them into coherent development strategies. We design integrated frameworks that connect economic development, spatial planning, social inclusion, and environmental sustainability. Our work within URBACT networks — including LUMASEC, TOGETHER, and URGE — has strengthened our ability to align local priorities with European policy agendas and emerging urban challenges.

Urban Spark transforms strategies into operational tools that cities can implement. We develop Integrated Action Plans (IAPs), roadmaps, and project pipelines that are clear, realistic, and impact-driven. Within the URGE network, we supported the Municipality of Kavala in developing an IAP addressing circularity in the construction sector. Through the Making Spend Matter Transfer Project, we facilitated an Integrated Sustainable Procurement Strategy, embedding social and environmental criteria into public tendering processes while actively engaging local SMEs.

A key strength of Urban Spark is bridging the gap between planning and financing. We support cities in identifying and mobilizing appropriate funding instruments, ensuring that strategies are financially viable and ready for implementation. Our experience spans EU-funded cross-border and interregional programmes, as well as innovative financing approaches such as green bonds and microfinance schemes. We help cities align their project pipelines with funding opportunities, increasing their capacity to attract and effectively use resources.

We design and facilitate participatory processes that ensure strategies are co-created and widely supported. Through stakeholder workshops, co-design sessions, and transnational exchange activities, we build strong local ownership and foster collaboration across sectors. Our role as advisors and facilitators — including organizing stakeholder engagement processes in Kavala and co-training within the URBACT National Campus — demonstrates our ability to turn participation into tangible outcomes.