On April 1–2, 2025, the GLEAM NSR consortium gathered in Aarhus, Denmark, for its third partner meeting, focusing on sharing progress so far and next steps to take in the project. Hosted at Aarhus City Hall, the two-day event brought together all 11 partners, as well as local public and private sector guests, to share insights, best practices, and strategies for future collaboration.
Day 1: Collaborative Dialogues and Urban Transformations
The meeting commenced with a welcome from the University of Groningen, followed by Aarhus Municipality presenting their Climate Alliance initiative. This alliance exemplifies effective multi-level governance, uniting public and private actors to drive the city's Climate Action Plan forward.
City partners from Mechelen, Le Havre Seine Métropole, Leuven, Rotterdam, and Aarhus provided updates on their progress preparing they upcoming City Dialogues, events emphasizing engagement with SMEs in urban logistics, service, and craftsperson sectors.
VIL Flanders Innovation Cluster for Logistics and Copenhagenize offered practical advice on organizing successful stakeholder events, highlighting the importance of thematic coherence and logistical planning.
Rotterdam showcased its comprehensive communication strategy initiated in 2019 to prepare entrepreneurs and residents for the Zero Emission Zone implemented earlier this year. Key elements included regular, targeted communications and opportunities for engagement through events and personal outreach.
The afternoon featured a site visit highlighting Aarhus' urban transformations:
- Vesterbro Torv: Traffic reduction measures enhancing pedestrian and cyclist spaces.
- Åen River: Restoration of a historic riverfront by closing a central road.
- Innovations in urban space optimization and climate resiliency.
The day concluded with and group dinner at Food Club Aarhus.
Day 2: Digitalization and SME Engagement
Day two began with a recap of key takeaways from the previous day. The University of Groningen and Leuven led a session on digitized urban logistics, discussing findings and lessons learned on data sharing and public-private collaboration.
LNC LogisticNetwork Consultants GmbH presented their analysis of the service logistics landscape in German cities and the mention of SMEs in urban logistics and mobility plans.
SMEUnited provided insights into SME representation at both EU and national levels, offering a 'reality check' on current challenges faced by small businesses in the logistics sector.
The meeting concluded with partners drafting preliminary action points for further digitization efforts in their respective cities.
This productive meeting in Aarhus reinforced the consortium's commitment to collaborative efforts in developing efficient, just, and green urban logistics solutions.
