In an era where communities must evolve to meet sustainability and digital transformation goals, engaging young minds in the conversation has never been more critical.
Since 2022, the ‘Design Your Future City’ programme has been running in Dublin City to support students to imagine the future of cities. This initiative was made possible by a partnership of Dublin City Council, CONNECT, and Research Ireland.
This year, we were thrilled to expand this initiative into ‘Design Your Future Fingal’ in collaboration with Fingal County Council. Over the course of a week, students teamed up with experts and local stakeholders to tackle climate challenges, using creativity and systems thinking to design solutions that could shape the future of their communities.
‘Design Your Future Fingal’, a collaborative initiative between CONNECT’s Academy of the Near Future, Fingal County Council, and key industry partners, provided students with a unique opportunity to explore, innovate, and shape the future of their communities.
Co-Development to Shape Future Communities
Held at Balbriggan Library and The Lark Concert Hall, the programme challenged students to tackle real-world urban issues, applying their knowledge to develop creative, technology-driven solutions. By the end of the week, teams had conceptualised and pitched ground-breaking ideas, such as ‘Assisted Living PAL’, ‘FreeBikey’, ‘Care Compressant’, and ‘Litterbug Project’, each addressing key challenges in accessibility, sustainable transport, and waste management.
Speaking after the presentations, Judge and Smart Balbriggan Programme Manager, Eamon Donlyn said, “this has been an inspiring week for all participants. Students, mentors, and judges alike have discovered the importance of taking a role in designing our futures. Developing local-led social economic initiatives where communities can drive the issues that matter most to them is key to building future smart communities. Our young people in Fingal have demonstrated their commitment to work together to take on challenges and design better solutions for all.”
Fingal is one of Ireland’s fastest-growing regions, with a diverse and expanding population. As urbanisation accelerates, so do the challenges of sustainability, mobility, and digital infrastructure. This makes it an ideal location for engaging young people in the future of smart city development.
By equipping students with the tools to understand digital twins, circular economies, and active travel, the programme fosters early engagement with STEM disciplines and civic innovation. More importantly, it encourages young people to see themselves as active participants in shaping their own communities, rather than passive recipients of change.
The success of ‘Design Your Future Fingal’ was made possible by a network of expert speakers, mentors, and judges who provided invaluable guidance throughout the week.
Reflecting on the programme’s impact, Professor Dan Kilper, Director of CONNECT commented “Innovation in urban development must be inclusive, and that starts with engaging young people in the conversation. Initiatives like ‘Design Your Future Fingal’ not only introduce students to concepts like digital twins and sustainable infrastructure but also inspire them to see the role they can play in building the smart cities of the future.”
The energy and enthusiasm from this week reaffirmed the importance of creating opportunities for young people to engage with future-focused urban challenges. With Fingal continuing to develop as a key hub for technological and infrastructural growth, programmes like ‘Design Your Future Fingal’ are essential in ensuring that the next generation has the knowledge, skills, and confidence to lead the way.
To find out more about upcoming workshops and initiatives, visit https://nearfuture.ie/