Background
Many regions of Catalonia—particularly inland, rural and mountainous areas—are facing profound demographic and social transformations. Depopulation, ageing populations and declining economic activity are weakening social cohesion and threatening the preservation of cultural and natural heritage. Limited mobility and poor connectivity play a central role in these dynamics, restricting access to education, employment, healthcare and community life.
At the same time, urban areas are experiencing increasing pressure on their mobility systems. Traffic congestion, high transport costs and car-dependent infrastructures disproportionately affect students and young people, while limiting active mobility and access to green spaces. In this context, mobility is no longer just a technical issue, but a key factor shaping quality of life, social inclusion and environmental sustainability.
The Urban–Rural Perspective
The Creathon 2026 addresses these challenges through two complementary territorial lenses, each developed in close collaboration with local and regional stakeholders, ensuring that students work on real needs and realistic contexts. In both cases, the challenge explicitly explores how mobility and heritage can actively contribute to retaining and attracting population, particularly young people, in territories affected by demographic decline.
In Cerdanyola del Vallès, the urban challenge focuses on the transformation of the Riu Sec, a dry riverbed that crosses the city and connects it to the UAB campus. Despite the geographical proximity, the campus remains poorly integrated into the city’s daily life. The challenge invites students to rethink the Riu Sec and its surroundings as a structuring corridor for sustainable mobility, capable of linking neighbourhoods, the university and natural spaces, while enhancing ecological continuity and accessibility. This challenge is developed in collaboration with the Ajuntament de Cerdanyola del Vallès, which provides the institutional and territorial framework for the proposals.
In Pallars Jussà and Noguera, the rural challenge addresses the impact of limited mobility on depopulation, access to services and territorial cohesion. Heritage is approached not only as something to preserve, but as a strategic resource capable of generating access, economic opportunities, habitability and long-term population anchoring. Students will explore how innovative mobility solutions, heritage activation and the re-use of local assets can contribute to revitalising communities and creating attractive living environments. This challenge is carried out together with a network of key territorial actors: the Museu de Lleida, the Associació d’Iniciatives Rurals i Marítimes de Catalunya (ARCA), Geoparc Orígens, Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya (FGC), the Institut Ramon Muntaner (IRMU) and the University of Lleida, all of whom bring complementary perspectives on heritage, mobility, governance and rural development.
Objectives and Learning Experience
Through a challenge-based learning approach, students will work with real stakeholders to design context-sensitive, feasible solutions. The challenge builds on existing territorial strategies and mobility plans, translating them into concrete, place-based proposals at local scale. The Creathon offers a unique opportunity to:
- apply academic knowledge to real-world problems;
- collaborate in international and interdisciplinary teams;
- engage directly with local communities and territories;
- develop practical skills in co-creation, prototyping and communication.
By connecting urban and rural realities, the Creathon 2026 empowers students to imagine and build more inclusive, sustainable and connected futures.
