What if cities could test climate solutions before implementing them in the real world? What if urban environments didn’t just survive climate shocks, but actually got stronger from them?
This week, that future took a giant leap forward in Turin, Italy. We are thrilled to announce the successful in-person kick-off meeting of TWINVERSE, a new Horizon Europe project dedicated to creating climate-neutral, antifragile urban environments. The event brought together 26 partners and 6 European cities, our five Mission Cities (Milan, Cork, Kalamata, Lappeenranta, and Vitoria-Gasteiz) plus Turin. Representing the project’s communication leadership, ABE was present with Katarina Djokic and Davide Guariento, who joined the consortium to initiate the strategy for dissemination, engagement, and exploitation from day one.
Highlights from the kick-off meeting
The kick-off meeting marked the transition from proposal to practice. Key outcomes from the two-day session include:
- United voices for a common goal
From city planners and policymakers to AI researchers and tech developers, the consortium aligned its diverse expertise around a single mission: building antifragile, climate-neutral cities.
- Co-Design in action
TWINVERSE is built on the principle that technology must serve people. During dedicated co-design sessions, partners and city representatives began shaping the project’s ecosystem to ensure it reflects real local needs.
- Connecting the dots: A federated universe
A core focus of the meeting was defining how to weave together Digital Twins, Artificial Intelligence, and federated data spaces. The goal is to create a seamless “Universe” where cities like Milan, Cork, and Kalamata can share insights securely, respecting local data sovereignty while enabling global-scale intelligence.
- Beyond resilience: The antifragile ambition
The consortium reaffirmed its ambition to move past simple resilience (the ability to bounce back). TWINVERSE aims to build cities that learn, adapt, and thrive in the face of climate challenges, turning potential disruptions into opportunities for improvement.
Acknowledgments and next steps
We extend a huge thank you to our hosts, Fondazione LINKS, for the warm welcome and excellent organization in Turin. To every partner who contributed their energy and expertise: this is just the beginning.
Follow the TWINVERSE website and social media (LinkedIn, X) for updates on our progress, upcoming events, and early results.
