The Flow Forward platform is developed within the European project: Connected River. Connected River is focused on enabling efficient experimentation with emerging digital techniques, new working methods and forms of collaboration, with a strong connection to society in waterway or waterfront regions.

Connected River

Due to increasing crowds, new challenges arise around water in urban areas all over Europe. Many (port)cities are faced with the task of finding innovative ways to ensure effective, safe and harmonious use of waterways / areas. Connected River helps to increase the innovative power of these European cities.

Connected River aims to increase the innovation capacities of local ecosystems. The focus is on safety, accessibility and quality of life around the water in urban areas. All kinds of users play a role in this; private, public and industrial stakeholders.

In 6 pilot areas, we are building ecosystems and innovative solutions to enable smart (port) cities. These innovation methods apply to a range of challenges surrounding area development and are not limited to port cities. Together with knowledge partners (Antwerp Management School, InnoValor Advies), the pilot areas will focus on the development and introduction of a usercentric and short-cycle innovation method: Flow Forward.

Connected River started in Januari of 2023 and runs untill 2027.  The aim is to find new ways to innovate, to respond to increasingly rapid and fast-changing enviroments. The focus of this project lays on digital and smart solutions with a multi-stakeholder ecosystem approach.

The results will be publicly available, you can follow the progress within this platform.

Why is Flow Forward platform available for free?

The foundations for the Flow Forward platform were created in the research project Connected River, funded by the European Commission.