On Friday, 10 October, the workshop “Towards a Sustainable Clean Energy Transition in Cities: Technical and Societal Perspectives” took place in Vienna, Austria. The event was co-organised by the EERA Joint Programme e3s and Joint Programme Smart Cities, and hosted by the Austrian Institute of Technology.

Inspiring Keynotes and Rich Discussion

The workshop opened with keynote presentations by Hans-Martin Neumann (City of Linz) and Anna Wang (BMIMI), who provided valuable insights into how European cities can lead the way in achieving a sustainable and inclusive clean energy transition.

Throughout the day, a series of interactive sessions explored the technical and societal dimensions of urban energy transformation, chaired by Ayşen Sivrikaya (Hacettepe University), Ali Hainoun (AIT), Monica Salvia (CNR), and Ghazal Etminan (AIT).

Discussions covered a wide range of topics — from Positive Energy Districts and renewable energy systems to justice, equity, and citizen participation — highlighting that technological innovation and social inclusion must progress together to build climate-neutral, resilient, and equitable cities.

Building Bridges Between Research, Policy, and Society

The event fostered dynamic dialogue among researchers, policymakers, and practitioners, strengthening collaboration between the JP e3s and JP Smart Cities communities.

A heartfelt thank you to all speakers and participants for their contributions, engagement, and enthusiasm. Together, we are building bridges between research, policy, and society, advancing a sustainable clean energy future for Europe.