Innovation Portfolio Approach (IPA) is an innovative method that manages urban transitions through interconnected portfolios of projects instead of supporting isolated projects. Connecting cultural creativity with existential sustainability, IPA facilitates collaboration between authorities, cultural organizations, universities and communities, generating integrated solutions to complex urban challenges.
Through the IPA approach, urban transformations become more resilient, addressing both external (technology, environment) and internal (values, collective visions) needs. It is an invitation to co-creation and engagement, redefining success through community impact and long-term sustainability.
IPA is a project funded in Romania by UEFISCDI, part of the ERANET Urban Transformation Capacities programme F-ENUCT-2023-003 of Urban Europe, coordinated by Future by Lund, Lund, Sweden, alongside partners such as Centrul Cultural PLAI in Timișoara and Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences, the Netherlands.
| ACRONYM | IPA |
| Project title | The Innovation Portfolio Approach – urban transition with the cultural and creative sector as driver |
| Project number | F-ENUCT-2023-003 |
| Contract | 65 of 01/05/2024
(ERANET-ENUTC-IPA) |
| National funder | UEFISCDI |
| Project coordinator | Future by Lund, Lund, Sweden |
| Project partners | • Asociația Centrul Cultural PLAI (Romania); Project team: Andreea Iager Tako, Norbert Tako, Krisztina Kalapati, Andrea Curut. • Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences (the Netherlands) • Lund University (Sweden) • West University of Timișoara (Romania) • Pakhuis de Zwijger (the Netherlands) • City of Amsterdam (the Netherlands) |
| Period | 01.05.2024 – 31.12.2025 |
| Field | 2 – Climate, energy and mobility (ASC); Energy and mobility (DSIN) |
| Aim | The aim of this innovation project is to build transformative capacity for urban transitions that connect both inner and outer transformation, existential sustainability, through an experimental Innovation Portfolio approach.
This was carried out in three European cities: Lund (SE), Timișoara (RO) and Amsterdam (NL), through three different types of intermediaries: an innovation platform, a cultural NGO and a university master's programme. These are supported by a unique constellation of universities, businesses, social and cultural organisations and local authorities. Each intermediary works with a local urban challenge in which the cultural and creative sector has many opportunities to catalyse innovation and co-creation. By shifting from supporting individual innovation projects to facilitating urban transition portfolios, the project paves the way for an approach with greater and more lasting impact, suited to the complexity of urban challenges. |
| Objectives | • Identifying and sharing methods, models, tools, processes and approaches relevant to developing Innovation Portfolios & Projects. • Adapting them to work in the context of mission-oriented innovation, in the sphere of urban transformation & culture. • Producing a summary and guide of methods, models and tools for developing Innovation Portfolios & Projects. • Developing, together with stakeholders and communities, visions, concepts and formats for co-created art & science forums and spaces that offer insights into ongoing or emerging innovation projects based on existential sustainability. • Drawing up a Communication Strategy that supports outreach and engagement in innovation, especially towards the cultural and creative sector. |
| Results | • 3 innovation portfolios (Digital Live Experience, Circular Textile & Fashion, Archaeology & Immersive Tech) in Lund, which together form the basis of 5–6 innovation projects. • 3 innovation portfolios in Timișoara (Zumzet, University Campus, Festival), which together form the basis of at least 4 innovation projects (Alumni, Teachers & AI). • 1 innovation project in Amsterdam (Boundary Spanning). • Concept developed for an art & science forum and a creative communication strategy – currently being implemented. • Competence analysis of the intermediaries, to be used for the next edition of the Urban Manager master's programme at HvA and beyond. |
| Impact | Concrete changes so far: We have – • Analysed and developed the intermediaries' competences and expanded their “toolbox”; • Facilitated 9–10 mission-oriented innovation projects through the Innovation Portfolio Approach; • Increased participation in open innovation for urban transition through culture and creativity, developing concepts for demo forums; • Tested the LIEPT model (not yet fully implemented); • Made progress on a collection of living examples, guides and presentations for inspiration; • Conceptualised a forum format for presenting the portfolios and launched it (04.06.2025); • Are updating the curriculum in other training modules (MOC Kosovo); • Promoted the Innovation Portfolio Approach, which has led to partners' interest in starting to use it; • Built a new standard for facilitating innovation processes for urban transformation, involving many stakeholders and based on ethical and existential perspectives. • Developed a practical guide for inspiration and guidance in the work of intermediaries in urban transformations |
