Groundbreaking project promotes accessibility and inclusiveness in European cities

The project is part of the EU’s Digital Europe program. It is led from Gothenburg, Sweden, and brings together a cross-sectoral team of private businesses, civil society organisations, and universities from across Europe, aiming to make city spaces more accessible to everyone.

"Our vision is to create a warm and inclusive solution, enriched with AI, that welcomes families and children with special needs. Through this groundbreaking project, we aim to make Gothenburg a creative, inspiring, and even more inclusive destination where everyone can feel at home and involved," says Peter Grönberg, CEO of Göteborg & Co.

Families often need to consider the combined needs of certain family members, such as physical barriers, cognitive challenges, age-related issues, anxiety, or language comprehension, before, during and after visiting the city. A tailored Local Digital Twin of the city integrated with an AI Assistant allows people to plan the visits, familiarise themselves with locations, and experience the city via one’s own smart device, thus removing many of the physical and mental thresholds that prevent full participation in city life.

"Imagine already knowing how it feels to ride the tram, hear the sounds of the city, or find your way to Scandinavium before you even step outside your door. This is what we strive for: to help people feel prepared, confident, and truly welcome in our city," says Johan De Paoli, who leads the development work at Göteborg & Co.

The project’s ambition is to deliver a scalable, replicable model of the Local Digital Twin that can be applied to cities across Europe, setting a new standard for digital inclusiveness and sustainable urban development.

The official start in October marks the beginning of a two-and-a-half-year journey, with the first exciting milestone set for the first half of 2025. By then, the team aims to have a prototype of the technical setup. It will be the foundation for the accessible digital twin that will allow users to explore Gothenburg virtually, in a new and inspiring way.