How Do Cities Survive Crisis? A Conversation from Kharkiv

What does it take to keep a city running when everything is under pressure - from war, climate shocks or rapid urban growth? In Kharkiv, the underground is no longer just infrastructure. It has become a lifeline. A place for protection, mobility and continuity in the middle of crisis. At this event, representatives from the municipality of Kharkiv join SINTEF, Åsmund Aukrust, the Minister of International Development, Jorun Nossum, Director of the Nansen Programme at Norad and the Norwegian–Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce to share first-hand experiences from a city that is actively using the underground to protect people and keep society functioning. Together, we will explore what these experiences can teach us, not only about war and crisis, but about how we design safer, more resilient cities everywhere. SFI CISU – the Research Centre for Innovative and Sustainable Underground Use, led by SINTEF, shows how the underground can be used in smarter and more integrated ways: for transport, energy, climate adaptation and societal security. This is already happening in Norwegian cities, and it is gaining strong international attention. But this is not just about tunnels and infrastructure. It is about how we work together. By building long-term partnerships between cities, researchers and industry, and by combining local experience with cutting-edge knowledge, it becomes possible to create solutions that actually last and make a difference. This session brings together voices from practice, policy and research to discuss how we can connect real needs with real solutions, and what it takes to build cities that are better prepared for the future. Curious about how cities can become safer, smarter and more resilient? Join the conversation.