DUT Updates Its Strategic Direction in New Roadmap
Acting on emerging urban challenges
The 2025 update of the DUT Roadmap reflects a critical juncture in global and European sustainability and climate neutrality policy. As the urgency to translate high-level goals – such as the European Green Deal, the Urban Agenda for the EU, and the UN 2030 Agenda – into tangible local outcomes grows, DUT responds by reinforcing its mission: to fund transformative research and innovation to build capacities of urban stakeholders and empower them to drive urban transitions in Europe and beyond.
“With a new roadmap in place guiding the partnership’s work, DUT strengthens its position as a key enabler of urban transformation, bridging research and innovation with policy uptake and local action. This update ensures that we continue contributing to policy discussions and shaping urban agendas in Europe and beyond.” – Orsolya Küttel, CEO of the DUT Partnership
Co-creating the new roadmap: engaging stakeholders across Europe
The DUT Roadmap is a strategic document outlining the partnership’s long-term framework, advising policymakers, funding agencies, researchers and practitioners to coordinate actions, align priorities, and join forces to drive urban transitions. The new roadmap has been co-created through a series of workshops with DUT partners and consultations with key external stakeholders, ensuring a broad and inclusive perspective on future priorities and actions of the DUT Partnership.
Turning policy ambitions to local action
In a context where urban policies’ focus shifts from high-level ambition to implementation and delivery, DUT contributes by offering a practical, impact-oriented framework that helps cities deliver on their commitments. The way DUT achieves this is by developing and refining funding instruments, supporting inter- and transdisciplinary collaboration, local experimentation and the uptake of research outcomes in urban practice.
“Municipalities must commit to a new kind of partnership with the scientific community – a partnership based on data, research and innovation – to guide investment and policy decisions.” – Björn Wallsten, CUE TP Coordinator of the DUT Partnership
The roadmap reflects DUT’s way of working, which actively supports the EU missions and policy agendas through systemic research and innovation. Yet, the framework also leaves room for experimentation, community building and replication of solutions beyond frontrunner cities. An example of this space for experimentation is the rounds of the Urban Doers Community, expected to be renewed in 2026.
By working together with DUT-funded projects, through for example the Knowledge Hub and Innovation Portfolio, DUT ensures that project results are not only developed but effectively scaled and embedded in broader policy frameworks. In doing so, DUT serves as a testbed for innovative instruments and enabling conditions that substantially trigger and support urban transitions.
DUT activities to enable impact
Implement research and innovation calls
At the core of its activities, DUT funds transnational research and innovation projects. These projects are guided by the three thematic Transition Pathways and are rooted in collaboration with a wide range of urban actors.
Four annual calls have been programmed under DUT. From 2024 to 2033, over 250 funded projects will be supported, developing, testing, and scaling new approaches, practices, and tools for urban transitions.
Build the DUT community and improve stakeholder capacities
DUT brings together key urban actors to respond to the needs of urban challenge owners and to co-create thematic outputs. Through workshops, training sessions, and interactive formats, DUT fosters knowledge exchange, strengthens communities of practice, and supports the uptake of innovative and transformative approaches.
Exchange and peer learning are facilitated through the DUT City Panel and the Public Officer & Practitioner Community, which enable urban administrations to share experiences, insights, and practical solutions.
In addition, the Urban Doers Community enriches diversity and inclusiveness within the DUT stakeholder community. This is an instrument to give visibility for grassroots groups and urban solutions, creating stronger connections between local experimentation and European policy. Explore 12 Policy Recommendations.
Synthesise and disseminate results
DUT is determined to make results accessible and actionable through targeted dissemination activities, the Knowledge Hub and the Innovation Portfolio:
The Knowledge Hub plays a central role in this work. It consolidates insights from funded projects, thematic workshops, and expert mappings, transforming them into accessible knowledge products that inform urban policy and practice.
The Innovation Portfolio, featuring selected learning cases, will be prominently showcased on the DUT website, offering a structured overview of key outcomes and success stories.
Support uptake of results and scale out
DUT strives to make applied research and innovation (R&I) results tangible at local, regional and national level. It is expected that activities such as matchmaking and micro-funding initiatives, can address cities’ practical needs and enable direct connections between R&I actors and urban stakeholders.
Align with key urban policy initiatives and scale up
The DUT Partnership actively engages in European urban policy discussions, including the Urban Agenda for the EU Partnerships, EU Council Presidencies, the European Urban Initiative, and URBACT. DUT contributes through participation in conferences, workshops, and policy focused activities. In parallel, DUT collaborates with EU flagship initiatives - such as NetZeroCities, CapaCITIES, the New European Bauhaus, the SET Plan, and CIVITAS - through joint workshops, publications, conference sessions, and policy briefs.