Source: Norrtälje Municipality

Piloting urban transformation – TANGO-W Urban Living Labs

TANGO-W ULLs are pilot sites for experimenting with innovative solutions in the Food-Energy-Water (FEW) nexus. Below is a brief description of the seven TANGO-W ULLs, highlighting their unique challenges and opportunities.

Stockholm, Sweden

The goal of the Stockholm ULL is to develop a feasibility study for implementing food production in the built environment of the Stockholm Royal Seaport. This includes urban agriculture for leisure and community building in public spaces and for commercial purposes in walls, greenhouses on rooftops and caverns. The area called Valparaiso, which is expected to be developed in the next 10 years, has provided the context for discussing with several departments of the municipality, private sector (developers, entrepreneurs), academia, and civil society the possibilities of growing food in cities. As Stockholm Royal Seaport is an eco-district that showcases sustainable urban solutions in diverse fields (e.g. energy, water, food, mobility), the municipality actively uses the land allocation and land development agreements to incentivise the private sector to test different technologies and explore alternative solutions to improve urban sustainability.

Norrtälje, Sweden

The Norrtälje ULL is about developing a feasibility study for implementing a hub for local food production in Campus Roslagen. The hub includes three greenhouses that operate at different temperatures (cold, Mediterranean and tropical) and produce different types of food. These greenhouses will demonstrate the possibilities to grow food with aquaponic technology. In addition to the greenhouses, an area for cultivation outdoors, premises for meetings and commercialisation of food produced by local farmers, cafés and a green park will be part of the infrastructure that will enable the area to become a centre for innovation, marketplace and meeting point for local producers, tourism attraction and education for sustainable cultivation methods. The multi-functionality of the place (entrepreneurship, education, sustainability of resources) is expected to strengthen the collaboration across different municipal departments.

Marker, Norway

The overarching goal of the Marker ULL is to raise awareness about the use of food, energy, and water in the municipality. The focus is on producing local food through: (1) urban farming in parcel gardens, and (2) greenhouse farming at an elderly home. Both of these sites will be used to prepare meals that can be sold and delivered to local institutions (e.g., kindergartens, schools, elderly homes) from the large kitchen based at the elderly home (which has existing capacity to act as the site of food preparation).

Halden, Norway

The TANGO-W ULL in Halden Municipality focuses on developing a food waste reduction programme in municipal kindergartens. This programme will provide kindergarten managers with information and routines on how to reduce food waste by being resourceful with the food supply and meals cooked in the kindergarten kitchens, as well as using better food preservation techniques for storing and handling food in the kitchens.

Klagenfurt, Austria

This TANGO-W ULL focuses on the Hi-Harbach neighbourhood development in Klagenfurt where space for up to 1,700 residents is being developed. Hi-Harbach aims to implement new models of living with smart mobility, liveable social spaces, and the coexistence of generations. The Smart Climate Lab, owned by Klagenfurt municipality, is mediating the establishment of a renewable energy community (REC) in this neighbourhood to supply residents with locally generated, renewable electricity under advantageous conditions.

Weiz, Austria

Within TANGO-W project, Weiz Municipality is developing a vision and mission statement that will provide direction, articulate goals, and identify urban development themes for the future—including those related to food, energy, and water—thereby contributing to the strategic agenda setting of the city. In addition to the new vision, agreement on central, shared values and recognition of competencies will also be important for balancing common conflicting positions and concretising action to achieve the goals. The vision provides direction and orientation for all political parties through its long-term focus, but it also provides flexibility in its short- and medium-term goals, which may be updated every 4-5 years. It serves as an orientation for all central policymakers in the city, legitimized by a broad-based process.

Alytus, Lithuania

The main aim of the Alytus ULL has been to design sustainable strategies to incorporate into the municipality’s 2024-2026 action plan, particularly regarding energy efficiency and food and waste management.

Governance arrangements

The implementation of TANGO-W ULLs is influenced by distinct historical, cultural, and political contexts. These contexts shape their planning systems and governance models creating different preconditions for realising urban transformative capacities, including organisational structures, skills, and competencies (Box 1).

Box 1. TANGO-W ULLs’ different administrative and governance models (adapted from Wilhelmer et al., 2024).

CONTINENTAL EUROPEAN FEDERAL TYPE (AUSTRIA—Klagenfurt and Weiz)

Characterized by a strong culture of legalism and adherence to the rule of law.

The principle of subsidiarity is central, promoting decentralized governance where local governments, led by influential mayors, play a key role.

Composed of federal states, each with their own constitution, government, and parliament.

Local governments have constitutionally protected self-government and are tasked with a broad range of responsibilities.

Citizen participation is robust, and local authorities enjoy high levels of political and democratic legitimacy.

NORDIC TYPE (NORWAY—Marker and Halden; SWEDEN—Norrtälje and Stockholm)

Known for parliamentary democracy, transparency, and an open civil service.

Highly decentralised, with local governments enjoying significant financial and functional autonomy, particularly in sectors like primary and lower-secondary education, social services, planning, water supply, sanitation and sewage. Responsibility for healthcare is divided between regions and municipalities in Norway and Sweden.

Regions in Sweden have the authority to levy taxes, which is not the case in Norway.

EASTERN EUROPEAN TYPE AND THE BALTICS (LITHUANIA—Alytus)

Historically shaped by the Soviet model with centralised power and no separation of powers. After the fall of communism, many countries transitioned to the Continental European model.
Sub-national government tiers have limited mandate, responsibilities, and resources compared to the Nordic type.
Lithuania’s governance is reliant on legal regulations, influenced by both Soviet heritage and EU membership. While legalism ensures the rule of law, it sometimes hinders administrative efficiency.
Local government in Lithuania operates at two levels: municipalities and “elderates” (subdivisions of municipalities). Municipalities in Lithuania rely heavily on funding from the central government and have a limited fiscal autonomy.