Seeking Civil Society Partners for Inclusive Urban Living Labs – RE-LIVE 15 | DUT 2026

Seeking Civil Society Partners for Inclusive Urban Living Labs – RE-LIVE 15

Programme: Driving Urban Transitions (DUT) Partnership – Call 2026

Project: RE-LIVE 15 – Adaptive Reuse of Urban Spaces for Climate-Resilient, Socially Inclusive and Circular 15-Minute Neighbourhoods

Project approach: Innovation-Oriented Approach (IOA)

Proposed coordinator: Karadeniz Technical University (KTU), Türkiye

Duration: 36 months

Project Overview

Karadeniz Technical University is developing RE-LIVE 15, an international research and innovation proposal that aims to transform underused urban spaces and pedestrian infrastructure into climate-resilient, accessible and socially inclusive neighbourhood environments.

The project combines blue-green infrastructure, circular resource management, an explainable AI-supported GIS Decision Support System (AI-DSS), an interactive urban e-Atlas, participatory urban living labs and physical micro-pilot interventions in two countries.

Social inclusion and meaningful citizen participation are central to the project's approach.

Partners We Are Looking For

We are seeking civil society organisations (CSOs), non-governmental organisations (NGOs), community-based organisations and social innovation partners with experience in:

• Participatory urban planning and community engagement.

• Social inclusion, diversity and environmental justice.

• Accessibility and universal design.

• Engagement of children, older adults, women, persons with disabilities, low-income communities and other underrepresented groups.

• Inclusive co-design and urban living labs.

• Social impact assessment and participatory monitoring.

• Community-based climate adaptation and nature-based solutions.

Expected Partner Contributions

Potential partners will contribute to:

1. Urban Living Labs and Co-Design

Supporting at least two urban living labs and participatory workshops involving residents, municipalities, researchers and local stakeholders.

2. Social Inclusion and Community Engagement

Developing inclusive engagement strategies and ensuring that diverse social groups can meaningfully influence planning and design decisions.

3. Inclusive Pilot Design

Contributing to the identification of local needs, evaluation of alternatives and co-design of physical micro-pilot interventions in two countries.

4. Social Impact Assessment

Assessing accessibility, perceived safety, public-space use, social equity and the distribution of project benefits across different user groups.

5. Digital Accessibility and Public Participation

Testing the accessibility and usability of the public-facing e-Atlas and supporting participation by people with limited digital access.

6. Knowledge Sharing and Replication

Contributing to community engagement guidelines, municipal recommendations, dissemination activities and the transfer of inclusive planning practices to other cities.

Expected Collaboration

The project envisages at least two urban living labs, four co-design and evaluation activities, and the participation of at least 60 residents and stakeholders across the pilot cities.

We welcome organisations interested in taking an active role in the consortium. Participation and funding arrangements will depend on national DUT eligibility requirements.

Contact

Prof. Dr. Ertan Düzgüneş
Department of Landscape Architecture
Karadeniz Technical University (KTU), Türkiye

ertan.duzgunes@ktu.edu.tr