14.10.2022 | Lund, Sweden

The Modern Information Society and Innovations Public Union, the winner of a special grant competition announced by the State Support Agency for Non-Governmental Organizations of the Republic of Azerbaijan within the framework of the Year of Shusha, conducted a series of meetings with representatives of the municipalities of Lund, Malmö, and Helsingborg during a research visit to the Kingdom of Sweden. The meetings focused on projects and public campaigns aimed at encouraging citizen participation in urban development processes.

During the discussions, particular attention was given to Malmö Municipality’s approach to children’s participation in city planning. To enable children to express their views about the cities they live in in a free and engaging manner, interactive maps incorporating game elements have been developed, allowing children to record their ideas and suggestions directly on the maps.

The Hammarby district, developed to accommodate approximately 40,000 residents near Lund, was highlighted as a distinctive example of sustainable urban planning, particularly due to its advanced car-sharing systems and the application of innovative waste recycling technologies. In this context, Lund University was noted as one of the leading academic institutions conducting research on the theoretical foundations of urban and rural development, with a strong focus on nature-based and innovative solutions.

The city of Helsingborg, located in the same region, is pursuing an ambitious goal of becoming the smartest city in Europe through the implementation of the H22 Helsingborg 2022 project. The H22 Expo, organized within the framework of this initiative, represents a significant platform for showcasing smart-city innovations to a wide range of stakeholders. As part of the project, Helsingborg Municipality has established a dedicated center featuring a physical city model, where residents are encouraged to share their opinions and suggestions. These inputs are continuously collected and analyzed and play a crucial role in the development and implementation of higher-quality urban solutions.