Key Facts:
· Brisbane, Adelaide and Melbourne, Gippsland, South West Western Australia and Greater Hobart were selected to participate in the EU's global cooperation on sustainable urban development and regional innovation.
· The second phase of the International Urban and Regional Cooperation (IURC) launched in Melbourne was hosted by the EU Ambassador to Australia, the Lord Mayor of Melbourne and the European Union Centre of Excellence at RMIT University.
· Participating governments will have access to collaboration and joint projects with European and international partners in chosen areas including smart city, mobility, public spaces, energy transition, circular economy, urban food systems, urban industries, culture, education, and tourism.
Three Australian cities and three Australian regions joined the launch of a second phase of the International Urban and Regional Cooperation (IURC) EU – Asia and Australasia at Melbourne Town Hall on Wednesday 27 August 2025, hosted by the European Union and the Lord Mayor of Melbourne.
The European Union's IURC promotes multi-city cooperation on sustainable urban development, building partnerships between EU and non-EU cities. The European Union Centre of Excellence at RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia provides helpdesk and coordination services for the IURC in Australasia.
The cities selected for this program (2025-2027) are Brisbane, Adelaide and Melbourne, and the regions are Gippsland, South West Western Australia and Greater Hobart. The EU cities and regions participating are soon to be announced.
Over the course of three years, local and regional governments will benefit from workshops, networking events and study visits, and can implement pilot projects in the fields of sustainable urban development and regional innovation.
Thematic clusters allow governments to work collaboratively with European and other partners in chosen areas including smart city, mobility, public spaces, energy transition, circular economy, urban food systems, urban industries, culture, education, and tourism.
EU Ambassador to Australia Gabriel Visentin said: "There are common challenges that we all face at all levels like housing affordability and social cohesion. Through the International Urban and Regional Cooperation, the EU strengthens a global community of problem-solvers and supports participating cities and regions to partner on joint projects across the world. Like everything we do with Australia, we are working hard to increase our cooperation at all levels. Congratulations to the cities and regions selected."
Lord Mayor Nicholas Reece said: "Whether it's housing people, getting to net zero, improving social cohesion or building a stronger economy – all roads, and train lines, lead to the success of our cities. It is an honour for Melbourne to participate in the International Urban and Regional Cooperation program, and encouraging to see it grow even bigger this year, linking us with our neighbours in the Indo-Pacific and the wider European Union.
IURC Australia Country Coordinator Professor Bruce Wilson said: "Cities and regions across Australia are developing new ways of delivering better outcomes for their citizens. The opportunity to join with European Union partners in sharing expertise and working on practical projects that extend those outcomes is very exciting".
Background
The IURC Asia and Australasia is based on the 'Quadruple-Helix' cooperation model, encouraging the public sector to work together with businesses, research, education, and civil society partners to develop pilot projects in the short-term.
It involves cities and regions and their stakeholders (quadruple helix approach) from Europe and their counterparts in:
- Asia: China, Japan, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Republic of Korea, Thailand, Vietnam;
- Pacific: Australia & New Zealand;
- North America: United States & Canada,
- Latin America: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru.
IURC contributes to deliver the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the United Nations New Urban Agenda, the European Green Deal, and the Urban Agenda for the European Union. The IURC is implemented in the Americas, China, Asia, and Australasia, with a central coordination service in Brussels, the EU capital.
