RESPONSE final conference in Turku, Finland

The final conference of the RESPONSE Project took place from 19 to 21 May 2026 in Turku, Finland, bringing together city representatives, researchers, industry experts, technology providers and policy stakeholders from across Europe to explore sustainable urban transformation.

Over the past six years, RESPONSE has accelerated the transition towards smart, climate-neutral and resilient cities through integrated energy systems, digital innovation and citizen-centred approaches. The project delivered three Positive Energy Districts (PEDs) in the Lighthouse Cities of Turku and Dijon, while fostering exchange among its six Fellow Cities: Brussels, Zaragoza, Botoșani, Gabrovo, Ptolemaida and Severodonetsk.

The three-day conference included keynote presentations, technical sessions, panel discussions, working groups and site visits to the Student Village PED, showcasing practical project solutions. The opening day, themed “Smart, Climate-Neutral and Nature-Positive City”, highlighted Turku’s climate plans, regional energy vision and experiences from Turku and Dijon. Discussions focused on smart city contributions to climate goals and the importance of stakeholder cooperation. The second day, “Energy Sustainability and Resilience: Fostering Innovation”, covered lessons learned in smart buildings, renewable energy, energy flexibility, digital systems, citizen engagement, business models, impact assessment and replicability. The final day was dedicated to a hybrid Project Steering Committee meeting with partners across Europe.
The RESPONSE Final Conference marked the culmination of years of collaboration and innovation, advancing climate-neutral urban development and replicable solutions for European cities. A second final RESPONSE event will take place from 25–26 June 2026 in Dijon, France.