Cardiff University to lead €4m European project to build ‘antifragile’ cities

Cardiff University is leading a pioneering €4 million research project that aims to revolutionise how cities respond to crises and long-term challenges.

AntifragiCity, funded through the European Union’s Horizon Europe programme, brings together 13 partners, from seven countries, including the Municipality of Odessa in Ukraine, to reimagine urban resilience in an era defined by uncertainty and rapid change. Partners include ETH Zurich, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, and the Luxembourg Institute of Socio-Economic Research.

The initiative introduces the concept of “antifragility” to urban planning, which moves beyond resilience to create cities that not only endure disruption but can emerge stronger because of it. With a strong focus on sustainable mobility, the AntifragiCity project seeks to develop intelligent urban environments that learn, adapt, and evolve in response to diverse stressors.

Cardiff’s leadership of the project aligns closely with the University’s ‘Our future, together’ strategy, which prioritises innovation, sustainability, and community wellbeing. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the city of Cardiff has already begun implementing transformative mobility measures, such as lowering speed limits and promoting active travel through walking and cycling. These changes serve as tangible examples of how urban areas can adapt and improve following major disruptions.

Project lead and Coordinator Professor Yacine Rezgui, from the School of Engineering, said: "By integrating technology with local knowledge and citizen participation, we aim to pave the way to sustainable cities that are not only resilient but truly antifragile.”

A unique aspect of the project is its socio-technical approach to urban mobility—viewing transportation systems not just as infrastructure, but as dynamic networks deeply embedded in social and environmental contexts. The project will also emphasise citizen engagement, ensuring that urban transformations are co-designed with the people they impact most.

Pilot programmes will be rolled out in Odessa (Ukraine), Bratislava (Slovakia), and Larissa (Greece), where the project team will explore how cities can embed antifragile principles into everyday systems and practices. These real-world applications will help refine the methodology and support knowledge-sharing across European cities.

The outcomes of AntifragiCity are expected to influence city planning policy across Europe, offering scalable strategies for building communities that thrive in times of uncertainty.