Comon is an URBACT Good Practice – and we’re ready to share it with Europe!
Comon is an URBACT Good Practice and ready to share its model with Europe. We’re setting up an Innovation Transfer Network – and looking for cities to join us on a two-year journey of learning, co-creation and impact.
What is Comon?
Comon is an open lab based in Ghent (Belgium), where citizens, scientists, creatives, and tech experts come together to tackle urban challenges. We believe technology can be part of the solution — but only when it’s designed with people, not just for them.
Every year, we focus on a new challenge. For example:
- How do you understand your doctor if you speak a different language — or don’t understand medical jargon?
- How can we make moving through the city more enjoyable?
- How can we help people feel confident in raising children today?
We build an ecosystem where everyone can help shape the future — not just tech giants or professionals. Because smart cities need smart, empowered people. The kind who say: “Wait, that’s it? I can do that too!”
Even without a tech background. Everyone has a role to play — and we make sure they feel that.
What drives us?
- We bring people together. We connect citizens, researchers, policymakers, and entrepreneurs in unexpected ways — because fresh ideas come from fresh perspectives. We work especially closely with the partners of De Krook, Ghent’s knowledge hub.
- We make knowledge visible and tangible. People with lived experience, professionals, and researchers all have valuable insights to share. We create space for everyone to be heard — especially those who usually aren’t.
- We experiment and co-create. We roll up our sleeves, test ideas, and build things together. That’s how real innovation happens. Discover the prototypes developed to make healthcare more understandable
- We reflect and debate. We love tech — but we ask tough questions too. Is this the right solution? What are the ethical consequences?
- We build skills. We help people and organizations grow by building confidence in innovation: digital skills, entrepreneurship, creative problem-solving, and collaboration across disciplines.
What makes us different?
-
We make. Talking only gets you so far. At Comon, we build things — prototypes, visuals, ideas you can touch and test. Making helps people understand each other and solve problems together, even when they speak different "languages."
-
We have fun. We don’t believe in boring. Whether it’s a meeting on a boat or a balloon-filled workshop in a theater, we create moments people want to be part of.
-
We move fast. We’re a hands-on, action-oriented team. If it makes sense — we go for it. No endless PowerPoints, just momentum.
-
We experiment with methods. Innovation takes courage. We create a safe space to try things, fail fast, and learn quickly — all while having fun.
-
We explore technology’s potential. We believe tech can help make the world better — if we imagine it differently. Not just what Big Tech thinks we need, but what communities dream up together. Read the article in The Guardian about Comon and Library De Krook in Ghent
What we want to share with your city
Our approach is grounded in design thinking and co-creation. In every cycle, we organize creative and inclusive activities — and we’ll help you tailor them to your local context.
Here are a few examples:
🛠 Make-a-ton
An intensive week where students and citizens co-create solutions to real challenges, guided by experts — and walk away with working prototypes. Watch the after movie of the Make-a-ton on understandable healthcare
☕ Experiment Café
Test out a prototype in front of citizens, tech experts, and stakeholders. Gather feedback, spark ideas, and improve it together.
📚 Living Library
Borrow a “living book” — a person with a powerful story to tell. Listen, connect, and understand each other in a whole new way.
🗣 Dialogue Tables
Guided conversations about the challenge at hand. Participants share experiences, imagine new futures, and discuss the ethics of tech — in multiple languages.
🔧 Microlabs
Five people, one week, one societal challenge. Together, they develop a prototype and we support those who want to take it further. Read more about the approach of a Microlab
💶 Microfunding
Got an idea but no budget? We offer €250 no-strings-attached microgrants — especially for people who don’t usually apply for funding. No judging, just doing.
Why join our Innovation Transfer Network?
Together, we’ll explore how people-first innovation can thrive in different local contexts. By joining forces, our cities can:
- Learn from each other’s good practices to tackle urban challenges
- Strengthen inclusive, tech-savvy local ecosystems
- Inspire citizens, researchers, and policymakers to co-create
This network is supported by URBACT, offering expert guidance and EU funding to fuel our shared journey.
What you'll get
As a partner city, you’ll:
- Join a two-year journey with expert coaching
- Get EU funding to cover staff and exchange activities
- Learn from Ghent and each other through international visits and workshops
- Test ideas in your own city with support from the network
- Get visibility at EU level as a city driving urban innovation
Who can apply?
We’re looking for 5 cities or regions from:
- The EU
- Norway or Switzerland
- EU pre-accession countries (Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia)
Eligible partners include cities, districts, metropolitan areas, public agencies and other public bodies involved in urban development.
Timeline
- April 1, 2025: Call opens
- May 1, 2025: Deadline to apply for the Comon network
- July 1, 2025: Final submission deadline
- October 1, 2025: Networks approved
- November 1, 2025: Activities begin!
What we expect from partner cities
We want cities that:
- Are motivated to work with Comon’s model and make it their own
- Have experience with innovation, citizen participation or urban policy
- Can build a local team with residents, professionals, civil society, researchers, and/or policymakers
Let’s team up!
Are you ready to bring people-powered innovation to your city? Let’s connect and make it happen — together. Please fill out the form below. We will get in touch as soon as possible.