Co-Creation Pathway as a catalyst for implementing Nature-based Solution in Urban Regeneration Strategies Learning from CLEVER Cities framework and Milano as test-bed.

Nature-based solutions (NBSs) have been on the forefront of the urban regeneration processes in a later fashion; that direction fundamentally intertwines with the European Commission framework of Research and Innovation policy on “Re-Naturing cities and Green Infrastructure” aiming towards positioning the EU as leader in ‘Innovating with nature’. This research paper exploits the originality of using Co-Creation as Pathway for cities to better implement NBSs, and achieve flexible, open, equitable urban resilience, and adapt climate change strategies. Co-Creation dynamic processes build on involving stakeholders and engaging local community at every stage; moreover, account on collective governance and outputting social, economic and environmental ‘Co-benefits’. Primitively, the aim of this paper is to highlight the innovation of Co-Creation tools towards addressing NBS challenges, as well as, the assessment of front-runner cities’ governmental approaches in facilitations or deficiency towards the accomplishment of Co-creation processes. The case-study application of this work refers to the NBS Co-creation guidance -under development- for the H2020 project ‘Clever Cities’ under GA776604, specifically tailored for the cities of London, Hamburg and Milan