Through a series of methodological tools and continuous interaction with relevant stakeholders, experts and an array of the retail community the project provides the European Commission services with:

• A vision for the European retail ecosystem 2040,
• Insights on the behaviour of market actors and their expected response to policy measures,
• Sound information basis to support evidence-based policies, in particular vis à vis small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs),
• Scenarios that provide future alternatives.
  

The EU introduced missions as a new instrument in Horizon Europe. Mission Boards were appointed to elaborate visions for the future in five Areas: Adaptation to Climate Change, Including Societal Transformation; Cancer; Healthy Oceans, Seas, and Coastal and Inland Waters; Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities; Soil Health and Food. Starting in autumn 2019, five Foresight on Demand projects supported them with foresight expertise and methodology.

This report provides the work in support of the Mission Board on Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities. Starting with a systemic analysis, the project identified urban challenges in existing forward-looking studies in order to determine the thematic scope together with the Mission Board. It collected data about consolidated external and internal drivers, trends and practices as well as weak signals, potential disruptive events or incremental changes with a potentially substantial positive impact on cities.