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How can European cities work more effectively with universities and research institutions to tackle challenges such as climate change, housing, public health and digital transformation?

This report from Eurocities and CRAFT (DAStU, Politecnico di Milano) examines how cities are working with scientific and research partners to improve policymaking, test new solutions and make better-informed decisions.

Drawing on responses from 31 European cities, the report – City-science collaboration in European cities – explores existing partnerships, institutional arrangements and the barriers preventing scientific knowledge from being more widely used in local decision-making.

The findings show that while collaboration between cities and researchers is widespread, translating scientific evidence into everyday policymaking remains a challenge.

Key findings include:

• 39% of cities systematically use scientific knowledge in policymaking, while 52% use it occasionally, often for specific projects or challenges.
• 81% of cities report strong links with universities, but these relationships do not always translate into evidence-based decisions.
• 70% of cities collaborate on pilot projects, yet only 30% use scientific partnerships for policy evaluation, highlighting a gap between experimentation and learning.
• Political support is crucial. Ten of the 11 cities reporting strong political engagement also systematically integrate scientific knowledge into policymaking.
• Limited resources, staff capacity and fragmented data are among the main barriers preventing cities from making better use of research.

The report also highlights practical examples of how European cities are using research partnerships, urban laboratories, shared data and embedded researchers to address local challenges.

It calls for stronger cooperation between cities and universities, greater investment in municipal skills and resources, and more sustained national and EU funding to help cities turn research into effective policies.

Its central message is clear. Strengthening city-science collaboration requires more than funding research. Cities must also have the capacity to shape research priorities, work effectively with scientific partners and turn findings into better decisions for residents.