WP8 – DUT Knowledge Hub & Capacity Building
Lead organisation: Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM)
Fostering collaboration, knowledge exchange and cross-project learning with the wider DUT Knowledge Hub community.
Connecting aRTes to the DUT Knowledge Hub
Work Package 8 focuses on strengthening collaboration beyond the aRTes consortium by actively engaging with the DUT Knowledge Hub. While the technical work packages generate innovative solutions for rooftop transformation, WP8 ensures that this knowledge is shared, discussed and enriched through interaction with other European projects facing similar urban challenges.
Building Synergies Across Projects
One of the main objectives of WP8 is to create opportunities for collaboration between projects funded under the Driving Urban Transitions programme. Through a series of collaborative sessions and knowledge-sharing activities, partners explore common challenges, compare methodologies and identify opportunities for future cooperation.
More specifically, WP8 aims to:
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Promote the collaborative sharing of project outcomes
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Identify synergies between related initiatives
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Facilitate the exchange of knowledge and expertise
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Support future joint activities and research opportunities
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Strengthen the impact of project results beyond individual consortia
As a result, this work package contributes to building a stronger European ecosystem of urban innovation projects.
The DUT Urban Circular Economy Pathway
A major focus of WP8 has been participation in the DUT Urban Circular Economy Transition Pathway, which brings together projects working on circularity within the built environment.
Through collaborative workshops and expert discussions, participating projects examined how cities can better assess, measure and implement circular economy principles at different scales, from individual buildings to neighbourhoods and entire urban systems. These activities create valuable opportunities for aRTes partners to exchange experiences, validate approaches and contribute rooftop-related perspectives to broader discussions on urban sustainability.
Collaborative Learning and Knowledge Exchange
Throughout 2025 and 2026, aRTes actively participated in a series of collaborative sessions organised under the DUT framework.
These sessions brought together representatives from several European projects to discuss common research themes, share emerging findings and explore innovative approaches for evaluating circularity in the built environment. In addition, the discussions highlighted the importance of combining technical innovation with social, environmental and governance perspectives when addressing urban sustainability challenges.
For that reason, and by working alongside other DUT-funded projects, aRTes gains valuable insights while also contributing its expertise in rooftop transformation, urban resilience and multifunctional rooftop solutions.
Best Practices for Assessing Circularity
One of the most significant outcomes of the collaborative activities was the development of a joint Best Practices report focusing on the assessment of circularity within the urban built environment.
The report examines how circularity can be evaluated through integrated frameworks that consider multiple dimensions, including:
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Environmental performance
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Economic value creation
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Social wellbeing and inclusion
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Technical adaptability and durability
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Governance and management processes
Rather than viewing circularity solely through resource efficiency indicators, the report promotes a more holistic approach that supports informed decision-making and long-term urban transformation.
Key Insights and Recommendations
The collaborative work carried out through the Knowledge Hub generated several important conclusions. Firstly, circularity must be assessed across multiple scales, ranging from individual buildings to neighbourhoods and entire cities. Secondly, integrated indicator frameworks are essential for capturing the complexity of urban systems and supporting evidence-based planning. In addition, stakeholders recognised that social and governance dimensions often receive less attention than environmental indicators, despite playing a critical role in the success of circular economy initiatives. Finally, participants agreed that circularity assessment should move beyond reporting and become a practical tool for decision-making, planning and policy development.
From Knowledge Sharing to Action
Beyond producing reports and recommendations, WP8 seeks to transform knowledge exchange into practical action. The lessons learned through the DUT Knowledge Hub contribute directly to the refinement of project methodologies, the improvement of evaluation frameworks and the identification of opportunities for future collaboration. At the same time, these activities help ensure that the outcomes of aRTes remain aligned with broader European priorities related to circularity, sustainability and urban resilience.
Participating Projects and Communities
The Knowledge Hub activities brought together a diverse group of DUT-funded projects working on complementary urban challenges. Together, these projects contributed expertise, case studies and practical experiences that enriched discussions and supported the development of shared knowledge resources. Among the participating initiatives were: