SMCNetZero · Achieving Net-Zero through Innovation in Small and Medium sized Cities

SMCNetZero brings together six successful urban innovation initiatives in Europe with seven (7) regional and Pan-European networks and their partners to create a Satellite Network of innovation actors to support public sector representatives from Small and Medium-sized cities (SMCs), SMEs, academia, NGOs and investors across Europe to facilitate decarbonisation in SMCs. SMCNetZero will leverage its diverse Satellite Network to gain an in-depth understanding of SMC needs and barriers; raise awareness and simplify access to existing successful initiatives supporting decarbonisation; support matchmaking between supply and demand sides by linking SMEs, researchers, and investors with SMCs; and help identify and open access to funding for enabling innovation deployment in SMCs currently underrepresented in the European innovation ecosystem. SMCNetZero is unique in that its diverse consortium partners and broad commitment from target stakeholders in the Satellite Network ensure focus in regions with less innovation capacity, with written confirmed commitment from nearly 100 innovation actors at the proposal stage, to participate in the activities - including an emphasis on largely underrepresented regions and stakeholders. SMCNetZero’s vision is to create and strengthen local innovation ecosystems’ interrelations in SMCNetZero regions through brokerage and knowledge-building activities as well as digital resources to increase capacity for planning, deploying and scaling-up of decarbonisation solutions, overall focusing on increasing the inclusivity of these innovation ecosystems and minimizing existing innovation divides.