The Belgian city of Kortrijk is advancing its local energy goals with technical support from the Smart Cities Marketplace programme, an initiative promoted by the European Commission to facilitate sustainable urban investment. The support focuses on transforming municipal projects linked to clean energy and climate transition into financially viable proposals capable of attracting both public and private investment.

The experience reflects an increasingly visible shift in European urban policy: cities must not only define climate strategies but also develop the technical and financial capacity to implement them. In this context, platforms such as Smart Cities Marketplace act as intermediaries between local authorities, experts and investors, particularly in medium-sized municipalities that often have fewer specialised resources.

The case of Kortrijk highlights the growing importance of technical assistance as a tool to accelerate urban projects related to energy efficiency, resilience and decarbonisation, in line with Europe’s climate neutrality objectives for 2050.