GreenDEMO featured on Innovation Circle podcast: Aligning local action with global ambition
The GreenDEMO project was recently featured in Episode 23 of the ETIN Innovation Circle podcast series. Stephanie Daimer from Fraunhofer ISI, who coordinates GreenDEMO, and Christian Hübel from the City of Mannheim, one of GreenDEMO’s Demo cities, joined researcher and moderator Alejandra Boni from INGENIO Institute to explore how cities can drive systemic and sustainable transformation through localised innovation.
The conversation focused on what it takes to make sustainability transitions work at the local level. The speakers highlighted that for real change to happen, local administrations need new skills and structures to collaborate more effectively - both internally and with stakeholders across the city. While pilot projects are essential for experimentation and learning, they also need to be supported by broader institutional shifts. Long-term, meaningful transformation depends on integrating innovation into budgeting processes, administrative culture, and the everyday routines of public governance.
A central theme throughout the discussion was the importance of trust and participation. Christian Hüber emphasised how critical it is to engage residents who have historically been disconnected from city processes. “We are trying to reach groups who haven’t been part of city processes for 10 or 15 years. That’s a challenge for democracy,” he explained.
Mannheim, which is also part of the EU’s Climate Neutral and Smart Cities Mission, is already putting this into practice through SDG-based planning and participatory budgeting. But the challenges it faces - rising political polarisation, resource constraints, and growing mistrust - are familiar to cities across Europe. This is where GreenDEMO plays a vital role. The project not only offers technical support but creates reflective spaces for cities to learn together, test new approaches, and co-develop solutions that are inclusive and grounded in real local needs.
Key takeaways from the episode include:
- Local administrations need new capacities to collaborate across departments and with citizens
- Embedding innovation requires structural and cultural change within institutions
- Trust-building and participation are fundamental to inclusive, democratic innovation
To learn more about how cities are translating global goals into local action, listen to the full episode here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oz_tksjtzjI
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