UNIC European Post-Industrial Cities Leadership Forum

9 Jul 2026

The UNIC European Post-Industrial Cities Leadership Forum brought together representatives of cities, universities, businesses, and civil society organisations in Zagreb on July 2nd to collaborate on concrete solutions to today’s urban challenges. Participants included leaders from across the 10 UNIC cities, as well as representatives from the academic and business sectors. 

Europe’s post-industrial cities are facing major transitions, including challenges related to housing, energy, climate, and demographics. This Forum offered an action-oriented platform where stakeholders came together to exchange ideas, build partnerships, and co-create solutions.

Cork was represented by Prof Maggie O'Neill (UCC lead of UNIC's superdiversity thematic line), Dr Martin Galvin and Ciara O'Halloran of the UNIC Centre for City Futures, Cathal McSweeney (Cork Chamber), Cormac Ó Súilleabháin (Cork City Council) and Brendan Tuohy (Chair, UCC President's External Advisory Board).

The event included a reception hosted by the ambassador of the Netherlands on July 1, keynotes on "City Transformation, Innovation, and European University Alliances" by Walter Zampieri, Head of Unit for European Higher Education, European Commission (EACEA) and Nikolina Brnjac, Member of the European Parliament, stakeholder panels on Strategic Partnership Building and interactive sessions on co-creating Urban Futures.