Julio Cesar Rivera Pedroza

The University of Deusto (UD) is a renowned institution of higher education based in the Basque Country (Spain), with campuses in Bilbao and San Sebastián. Since its founding in 1886, Deusto has been committed to combining academic excellence, social responsibility, and innovation, with a distinctive emphasis on interdisciplinarity and civic engagement. Deusto brings to this proposal a well-established culture of co-creation with communities, involving students, researchers, public authorities and civil society. Its approach aligns strongly with the New European Bauhaus (NEB) values of aesthetic quality, environmental sustainability and social inclusion, fostering urban transformation processes that are participatory, place-based, and culturally sensitive. A key contributor is the Deusto FabLab, a digital fabrication and open innovation space embedded in the university’s mission to bridge technology and society. The FabLab supports collaborative prototyping of sustainable, inclusive, and beautiful urban elements. It is integrated within the Faculty of Engineering, which will also provide technical support through research groups working in product design, sustainability, applied mechanics, smart mobility and materials optimization. While technical capacities are essential, Deusto’s distinctive value lies in the cross-faculty integration of design, social sciences, education, and technology. This enables the university to address urban regeneration not only from a technical standpoint, but also from a human-centered and context-sensitive perspective. Research teams in urban commons, accessibility, participatory governance, and social innovation will contribute to the design of interventions that reflect the needs and aspirations of diverse communities. Deusto has participated in numerous EU-funded projects (Horizon Europe, Erasmus+, Interreg), and is a trusted partner for municipalities, NGOs, SMEs and cultural actors. It contributes to the Agenda 2030, the European Green Deal, and the NEB Lab, fostering systemic change and long-term impact. For this project, Deusto will engage in the co-design and testing of innovative street furniture through a process that combines digital fabrication, sustainable materials, inclusive design, and cultural dialogue. Its contribution will ensure that solutions are not only feasible and functional, but also meaningful, beautiful and rooted in local identity.