An innovative urban action (UIA) to foster the forest bioeconomy of Cuenca: UFIL

The Urban Forest Innovation Lab (UFIL) project seeks to enhance Cuenca’s urban economy by leveraging its forest resources, adopting a holistic approach on the ecosystem services it offers. This project, designed in collaboration between Khora and the Cuenca City Council, was selected in the third call of the Urban Innovative Action (UIA) initiative in 2018 under the topic Job & Skills.

THE CHALLENGE

Cuenca has long suffered from rural and urban depopulation, facing difficulties in retaining and attracting talent. Despite being the city from the European Union with the largest forested area within its municipal boundaries, this resource has been underutilized as a catalyst for economic reactivation, missing its potential to promote an ecological and demographic transition. Can the city promote sustainable forest use by promoting a forest bioeconomy that generates employment and economic activity?

THE SOLUTION

To address this situation in the city and harness all its multisectoral potential through innovation, UFIL emerges. Through a Fab lab ­— a digital manufacturing workshop— on forest bioeconomy, we implemented an innovative entrepreneurship training program in collaboration with the City Council, coupled with the incubation and acceleration of new businesses. We also conceptualized and coordinated the project from its inception, developing knowledge-based activities, identifying innovation opportunities, and engaging stakeholders to strengthen the project ecosystem and ensure scalability.