Please see below the draft agenda. More information about sessions will follow shortly.
You can download the agenda in PDF format here: Democracy_Lab_Bilbao_Agenda for website_Dec25
Short presentation of cities that were selected to present their challenges to youth and children engagement: Leipzig (DE), Milan (IT), Leeuwarden (NL), Bologna (IT), Cascais (PT) and Valongo (PT).
Participants form the challenge teams and start to explore the challenges in groupwork.
1. AZKUNA ZENTROA
Join this site visit if you are interested in culture and activating local communities through the arts.
Azkuna Zentroa is Bilbao’s flagship cultural and community centre, housed in the former Alhóndiga — a historic wine warehouse. It exemplifies how urban cultural spaces can strengthen social cohesion, accessibility and community vitality. Its wide range of facilities and programmes — from exhibitions and digital culture to sports, education and social innovation — attract diverse audiences, foster intergenerational participation and showcase creative forms of civic engagement.
This visit will offer participants firsthand insight into how the adaptive repurposing of space and the strengthening of cultural infrastructures can enhance inclusion, support community-building and encourage active citizen participation.
2. BAT B Accelerator Tower
This site visit presents a unique opportunity for anyone passionate about entrepreneurship ecosystems and their vital contribution to strengthening democracy.
BAT, Bilbao’s innovation hub, brings together startups, corporations, investors and public institutions under an open-innovation model, and has rapidly become a leading ecosystem in Southern Europe. The visit will offer participants insight into how cities can foster entrepreneurship, talent and collective empowerment by combining public support, private resources and international networks.
A tour of the facilities and ongoing projects will show how civic participation can translate into entrepreneurship and social innovation, particularly for young people and emerging civic actors.
3. ZORROTZAURRE
If you are interested in innovation ecosystems and the impact of a diverse group of stakeholders working together, this site visit is for you.
Zorrotzaurre is one of Europe’s most ambitious regeneration projects, transforming a former industrial peninsula into an inclusive and sustainable new district through multi-actor governance. Bringing together cultural initiatives, start-ups, educational centres, social projects and local residents, it demonstrates how cities can embed democratic values in urban development while fostering youth engagement, creativity and community life.
A visit to Zorrotzaurre will offer participants firsthand insight into how Bilbao is shaping a district grounded in social cohesion and systems thinking.
4. Koop SF34 & DIVERSITOURS
This site visit will be valuable for those interested in grass-roots initiatives that strengthen social cohesion, foster a sense of belonging and revitalise marginalised urban areas.
Koop SF34, the cooperative behind the award-winning DIVERSITOURS project, trains residents as intercultural guides to lead tours through one of Bilbao’s most deprived neighbourhoods, highlighting its cultural richness and diversity. By promoting new narratives around migration and inclusion, the initiative empowers communities and encourages more tolerant, critical and intercultural forms of urban citizenship. Bilbao won the 2023 Eurocities Award for DIVERSITOURS in the category “From human global mobility to local community cohesion”.
A visit to Koop SF34 and DIVERSITOURS will offer participants insight into how community-led projects can drive social transformation from the ground up.
Creative activity to boost imagination and ignite ideas generation.
Teams test ideas against their relevance and feasibility.
Teams select concrete ideas for further development and start prototyping action plan for implementation.
Social innovation ecosystem in the Basque country
Teams finalise their prototypes and prepare for public presentation.
Teams present the result of their work and provide feedback to other participants.
Lunch will be provided in takeaway bags,