Athens Cooling Havens: Climate Innovation Transfer

Cooling oases in the concrete jungle: or how do we bring Athenian climate innovation home to Pestszentlőrinc–Pestszentimre?

We all feel the effects of climate change on our skin: hot summer days and tropical nights are becoming an increasing challenge in our cities. But what if we could combine the power of technology and nature to create cooling points in the district? InnoK Knowledge Management Institute Nonprofit Kft. is working on this very thing within the framework of the European-level “Athens Cooling Havens” project.

What is the Athens Cooling Havens project about?

The project, funded by the European Union and launched under the European Urban Initiative (EUI), aims to develop a revolutionary urban cooling system. The pilot project is located in Athens, one of the most densely populated and hottest capitals in Europe, where the “heat island effect” is particularly pronounced.

The project is not just about planting trees, but about creating a complex, hybrid system that combines nature-based solutions with cutting-edge technology. The system has two main pillars:

Circular water management: we do not waste drinking water on cooling! The system collects and purifies rainwater or other alternative water sources and uses it.
Smart Cooling: the purified water is released into the air in the form of fine mist (adiabatic cooling), which immediately reduces the temperature. All this is controlled by artificial intelligence, which uses sensors to turn on the system only when it is really needed.

What is the role of InnoK? – The innovation bridge

Budapest’s 18th district (Pestszentlőrinc–Pestszentimre) participates in the project as a key partner, with the status of a so-called “Transfer City”. The strategic partnership is ensured by the district government, while the operational and professional implementation of the project is the responsibility of the InnoK Knowledge Management Institute.

InnoK is responsible for research and development activities, the exploration and adaptation of international good practices, and the domestic embedding of international knowledge. The Institute also identified and prepared the possibility of participating in the project, relying on its existing international network.

Our mission is knowledge transfer and adaptation. We do not simply copy what the Greeks invented. The task of InnoK experts is to examine how this Mediterranean technology can be transferred to our continental climate and the specific environment of the district – for example, the densely built-up spaces of the Havanna housing estate.

InnoK's tasks during the project:

On-site learning: our experts study the operating systems on site in Athens.
Preparation of a
Feasibility Study: we develop a detailed plan that shows where and in what form such cooling oases can be built in the 18th district.
Legal and technical preparation: we map out the regulatory environment necessary to allow public cooling based on water recycling in our country.

Who do we work with? – In the Stakeholder Network

The successful domestic adaptation of Athenian innovations is realized in a broad, international and domestic partnership network (consortium). InnoK plays the role of an intermediary link in this network.

The Knowledge Keepers (Athens and its partners)

The project is led by the Municipality of Athens, but we are in close contact with technology giants and universities (e.g. the National Technical University of Athens) that are developing artificial intelligence and water purification systems. We receive raw data and technological know-how from them.

The Student Partners (International Partner Cities)

We are not alone in our learning. We are working together with the cities of Roeselare, Belgium, and Sofia, Bulgaria.

For example, we are learning from Roeselare how to involve older people in planning and how to make green spaces fireproof.
Together with Sofia, we are examining how green infrastructure can be developed in collaboration with private owners.

The most important partners

Involving the district residents is one of the project’s core principles. InnoK’s methodology is based on the premise that technological solutions alone are not enough: the “Cooling Havens” concept is centered on community participation and social embeddedness.

We have initiated ongoing collaboration with the participants of the community meeting. We will also involve stakeholders and key stakeholders in the process – including local institutions, NGOs, professional partners and economic actors – to ensure that the planning is based on true partnership.

Our goal is for the cooling points of the future to function not merely as technical infrastructure, but to become living and sustainable community spaces that reflect local needs.

Why is this good for the district?

By the end of the project (May 2028), InnoK will present a ready-made Replication Plan suitable for investment. This guarantees that the knowledge gained will not be lost, but will be transformed into a tangible urban development program.

Our goal is clear: to create a more livable, cooler and greener 18th district, where the most modern European innovations serve the comfort and health of the population.

Our partners in implementation – The domestic professional network

The task of the InnoK Knowledge Management Institute is to adapt the innovations of Athens to the domestic environment. For this, it is essential to operate a stable, diverse professional network. For the success of the project, we work in close cooperation with nearly 20 key players, who support our work from decision-making to professional planning to community implementation.