City Science Summit Gipuzkoa, Basque Country (Spain) 2026: Knowledge in Action through Interdisciplinarity, GloKal and Science for Policy intersections

This presentation accompanied “Knowledge in Action”, a conversation between Igor Calzada (EHU, Ikerbasque) and Naiara Rodriguez-Florez (Tecnun–University of Navarra, Ikerbasque), held on 4 November 2026 at the City Science Summit in Donostia/San Sebastián, Gipuzkoa, Basque Country, Spain. Part of “The Questions That Matter”, the session explored how disruptive research and innovation can contribute to meaningful local impact. The conversation was structured around zubigintza, the Basque word for building bridges, and three connections relevant to researchers, policymakers and practitioners in urban studies, City Science and regional innovation: Bridges between disciplines — interdisciplinarity through action research. Connecting scientific perspectives around shared problems can open possibilities for innovation whose practical value must be explored and evaluated. The discussion brought together engineering, data science, artificial intelligence, cooperatives, economics and public policy, drawing on research concerning smart mobility and MUBIL in Gipuzkoa. Bridges between places — regional hubs for planetary thinking. The City Science Network, City Science Lab Gipuzkoa and MUBIL provide a context for examining how international research and local knowledge can inform one another. The contribution considers how exchanging knowledge between regional hubs, adapting approaches to local conditions and sharing the resulting learning could generate socioeconomic and territorial value for Gipuzkoa and the wider Basque Country. Bridges between stakeholders — co-producing knowledge and public policy. Science for policy is approached as collaboration beginning with the definition of problems and research questions. Academics, scientists, policymakers, public authorities, businesses, cooperatives and civil society bring different knowledge, needs and constraints to this process. Their involvement from the outset can inform research design, policy development and the evaluation of practical responses. A central invitation is to leave disciplinary and institutional comfort zones and think outside the box, making assumptions open to challenge and creating opportunities for joint learning. Shared through open science, this presentation offers a discussion resource for the City Science community and for those working across research, public institutions and urban practice. It invites further exchange on how scientific contributions can inform public decisions and create value for the territories and communities involved.