DISRUPT: ENLIGHT Project Call Winner!

The DISRUPT project focuses on innovation, digital ethics and urban transformation, and seeks to create a joint masters programme on urban planning and management. This will equip students with knowledge about technical solutions to help cities face challenges such as climate change and digitalisation. 

What is the project about?
DISRUPT (Digital Innovation Skills and Research for Urban and Periurban Transitions) creates a research and training network focused on Urban Digital Twins: virtual models of cities that support better urban planning and management. Our main outputs are three annual training schools, citizen science activities, and educational resources leading to a joint master’s programme. The University of Groningen works with five ENLIGHT universities: University of Bordeaux (coordinator), Ghent University, University of Göttingen, University of Tartu, and University of the Basque Country, contributing our expertise in political philosophy and design ethics.

Why this project?
Cities face significant challenges from climate change and digitalisation. These issues need more than technical solutions; they require ethical frameworks to ensure digital innovations serve human needs. Our expertise in the interaction between philosophy and spatial science complements our partners’ technical specialisations. By participating in DISRUPT, we help ensure that urban digitalisation remains inclusive, democratic, and focused on citizens’ wellbeing rather than technology alone.

Why is this collaboration important?
This collaboration is valuable because urban challenges cross national and disciplinary borders. Through DISRUPT, the University of Groningen gains access to technical knowledge in digital twin technologies while contributing our expertise in ethics. We’re working out how to integrate ethical considerations into technical implementations, ensuring digital innovations serve all citizens fairly. This exchange enriches our research and teaching while creating mobility opportunities for our students and researchers across Europe.

How did this collaboration start?
When Prof. Mamadou Kaba Traoré of the University of Bordeaux was assembling partners for the project, Assoc. Prof. Ryan Wittingslow was invited to contact the consortium by Prof. Ming Cao, Director of the Jantina Tammes School of Digital Society, Technology and AI.

What will be the impact of this project for the University of Groningen?

For the University of Groningen, DISRUPT will enhance its educational offerings in digital ethics and urban transformation. The students and researchers will gain international exposure through the training schools and workshops, expanding their professional networks. Moreover, the project strengthens the UG’s position in the ethical dimensions of digital innovation, attracting students interested in this field. Additionally, the participation in the planned ERASMUS MUNDUS Master programme will establish the UG as a key destination for those interested in understanding the human dimensions of urban digital transformations.

What connection does DISRUPT have to other projects?

The DISRUPT project extends the UG’s existing work in digital ethics and responsible innovation. Additionally, it complements UCG’s interdisciplinary approaches to societal challenges and aligns with the UG’s focus on digitalisation and sustainability, creating connections with Climate Adaptation research and Digital Society initiatives.

The UG Coordinator:

• Dr. Ryan Wittingslow, Associate Professor University College Groningen

Future Direction of the Project:

Congratulations to DISRUPT, especially to the UG team!