General Info

Together with six European university cities Utrecht has established a  network to strengthen the opportunities for all parties involved. The goal is to create a binding network that provides easy access to international knowledge sharing.

The Similar Cities Network

Seven European cities have the ambition to emphatically profile themselves as cities within the European context. They see themselves faced with European legislation, but also with chances for subsidies and interesting international contacts. Therefore they strive to develop more intensive contacts with (a selection of) European cities and to exchange knowledge and experiences on policy issues which are present in the European context. In doing so, possibilities will appear for partnerships for the purpose of applying for European subsidies.  Aarhus (Denmark), Bologna (Italy), Edinburgh (United Kingdom), Ghent (Belgium), Malmö (Sweden), Utrecht( The Netherlands) and Stuttgart (Germany) have found each other in this ambition. Together they form the basis of the Similar Cities Network.  

The Similar Cities Network is a group of 7 European cities who in general have a young and well educated population, house a big and top university, are attractive, innovative and creative and contribute to the Lisbon-strategy. But these cities also are faced with bottlenecks to solve, like accessibility, air quality, deprived areas to redevelop. These cities also share the ambition to profile itself as a city in the European context and the wish to obtain EU-funding in developing policy and the city on several themes.
The similarities make the cities equivalent to each other. This makes it easier to learn from each other (compared to other than much bigger or smaller cities) and to develop and exchange knowledge and solutions. But the cities also know differences that can give inspiration and creativity, and unexpected possibilities and solutions to challenges/problems they meet. This makes it possible to really exchange, in stead of one-way or once-only contacts. The network is an instrument to have easy access to people, information and knowledge in a selection of European cities.

Activities within the network

• exchange of information and experiences by specialists (in best and worst practices)
• Partnerships in European funded projects 
• one annual meeting per year with a theme
• Internships
• one-on-one exchanges, working visits
• thematic meetings for sub groups on a specific theme
• access to information as a result of exchanges

There is also a Linked in Group of the Similar Cities Network!