About CIPU
The Cellule nationale d’Information pour la Politique Urbaine – CIPU (English: National Information Unit for Urban Policy) is the central platform for urban policy in Luxembourg.
As an interface between urban stakeholders at the local, national, and European levels, the CIPU supports collaboration, knowledge exchange, and capacity building in the field of urban development.
The CIPU is built on a partnership between the departments of the Ministry of Housing and Spatial Planning (MLOGAT), the Ministry of Home Affairs (MAINT), and the four Cities of Luxembourg, Esch-sur-Alzette, Differdange, and Dudelange. The daily business of the CIPU is managed by the CIPU Office, composed of the consulting firms Zeyen+Baumann and Spatial Foresight.
The main objective of the CIPU is to enable the collaborative development of innovative tools and solutions for urban challenges through practical approaches, networking, and targeted knowledge transfer.
The target audience of the CIPU consists of decision-makers and professionals with an interest in urban planning, territorial development and architecture. Depending on the annual theme, this audience can be specifically expanded.
Our activities
The strategy of the CIPU
The work of the CIPU aims to strengthen the cooperation between municipal and national authorities. At the heart of this approach lies a dialogue on equal footing, addressing relevant urban development topics in a practical, comprehensible, and needs-based manner. Each year, in close consultation with the convention partners, the CIPU selects a priority theme in order to thoroughly explore current challenges in urban development.
Practical events and dynamic exchange formats
The annual theme is brought to life through a variety of events, including:
- an online colloquium with Luxembourgish and international experts, aimed at broadening discussions and establishing a solid knowledge of the thematic background,
- two interactive workshops designed to engage the target audience as well as relevant stakeholders,
- a thematic excursion with focused exchanges on innovative projects,
- an annual closing conference that provides a platform for in-depth discussions, including at the political level, and for the sharing of best practices.
These formats enable the CIPU to foster constructive dialogue and practical implementation while facilitating collective learning.
Past priority themes of the CIPU
In recent years, the following themes have been at the core of the CIPU’s work:
- Affordable housing (2017/2018)
- e-Governance (2017)
- Large-scale urban projects (2019)
- Climate change adaptation in cities (2020)
- Urban planning in transition / The New Leipzig Charter (2021)
- Impacts of the Covid-19 crisis on urban development (2020/2021)
- Energy concepts for sustainable neighbourhoods (2023)
- Mix-used development and the productive city (2023)
- Alternative and participatory housing (2024)
- The climate-resilient city (2024)
Knowledge transfer and international networking
To promote knowledge transfer and provide cities and municipalities with practical solutions, the CIPU comprehensively documents its activities. Additional information can be found under Médias (in French).
The CIPU also systematically informs urban actors in Luxembourg about strategies, programmes and events within the framework of European urban policy. Additional information can be found under Ressources.
Furthermore, the English-language blog helps introduce topics, projects, and key actors of urban development in Luxembourg to an international audience and strengthens the exchange across national borders. To the blog
Background
Inspired by the “Leipzig Charter on Sustainable European Cities” of 2007, the Cellule nationale d’Information pour la Politique Urbaine (CIPU) was established to enable Luxembourg’s cities and municipalities to actively shape a national urban policy, in line with the objectives of the “Programme directeur d’aménagement du territoire 2003” (PDAT 2003). Over the years, the CIPU has become the central platform for a cross-sectoral and multi-level urban policy.
With the 3rd CIPU Convention, signed in March 2022 by the seven partners, it continues this tradition, further promoting collaboration and exchange among urban actors at the local, national, and European levels for a sustainable future of urban areas.
