RESPONSE final conference in Dijon

The second final conference of the RESPONSE project took place end of June in Dijon, France. Around  80 project partners, city representatives and researchers came together to reflect on six years of collaboration and consider the future of climate-neutral cities.

On 25 June, guided tours of the Fontaine d’Ouche district offered insights into one of Europe’s most advanced Positive Energy Districts. Since achieving positive energy status in 2025, the neighbourhood has demonstrated how renewable energy production, energy-efficient renovations, storage technologies and smart energy management can be successfully integrated at district level. The day concluded with informal networking following welcome speeches from Karine Huon-Savina, Dijon’s Deputy Mayor responsible for climate change adaptation, and Jean-Patrick Masson, former Vice-President of Dijon Métropole.

The conference opened the next day with welcome addresses from local and regional representatives, followed by an overview of the RESPONSE project’s journey and key achievements presented by project coordinator Monjur Murshed (EIFER). The Lighthouse Cities of Dijon and Turku then shared their experiences and results, demonstrating how the RESPONSE methodology can be adapted to different urban contexts. Jean-Patrick Masson also reflected on the key messages that emerged throughout the conference.

Two roundtable discussions explored how RESPONSE had strengthened partner organisations beyond its technical objectives and helped pave the way for future initiatives and funding opportunities. Parallel sessions focused on implementing innovative solutions such as collective self-consumption and energy-climate platforms. Benjamin Govehovitch (EIFER) and Samuel Thiriot (EDF) highlighted how digital tools can support cities in understanding their territories and improving decision-making.

The conference concluded with a final address from Monjur Murshed, who reflected on the collective effort behind RESPONSE and thanked all partners and stakeholders for their contributions. While marking an important milestone, he emphasised that the work continues beyond the project’s formal conclusion and that the commitments established during the six-year collaboration remain a priority.