Cities provide essential support for new business models and trends such as the collaborative economy. Cities also recognise the potential impact of these models on urban policies and local competences. We aim to harness their full potential and channel the benefits, work together in a sustainable way and make sure all citizens will have access to these new opportunities. We support new business models both financially and practically, including through incubators, opening data for use by entrepreneurs, connecting stakeholders at local level through co-working spaces, acting as facilitators, and promoting fair competition, for example through procurement practices.

Our European projects in this area include Sharing Cities, The Big Buyers Initiative, PROSPECT, ULaaDs and SHOW.