Empowering Public-Private Partnerships for Net Zero Solutions.
What we do
Rethink Cities empowers urban transformation by bridging the gap between startups, governments, and industries to achieve sustainable, climate-resilient cities.
Through innovative partnerships and targeted initiatives, we drive cities toward net zero goals and foster the development of future-ready urban environments.
Our projects
Rethink Cities
Innovation Awards
The Rethink Cities Startup Awards spotlight pioneering startups driving cities towards sustainability and climate neutrality through innovative solutions.
Rethink Cities Summit
Rethink Cities Summit is a global summit focusing on implementing solutions to make cities more sustainable. We believe many of the solutions we need for that, already exist, so the summit’s purpose is connecting them to challenges, scaling the knowledge and best practices for optimal implementations.
Join the Rethink Cities Innovation Awards empowering the next generation of urban innovators.
Apply before October 15
The Rethink Cities Startup Awards honor innovative startups driving net zero solutions and urban decarbonization, celebrating sustainability efforts in Sønderborg.
Sønderborg: The Global Capital of Energy Efficiency
Sønderborg stands at the forefront of energy efficiency and urban sustainability, driven by the ambitious goals of Project Zero.
Recognized globally for its commitment to achieving climate neutrality by 2029, Sønderborg serves as the ideal host for the Rethink Cities Innovation Award, exemplifying what’s possible when cities commit to innovative and sustainable development.
Project Zero and
Supporting Organizations
Project Zero is a public-private partnership founded in 2007 by the city of Sønderborg and the Bitten and Mads Clausen Foundation, which has been instrumental in putting Sønderborg on track to achieve carbon neutrality by 2029. This initiative has earned Sønderborg recognition as the Global Capital of Energy Efficiency by the International Energy Agency (IEA), positioning the city as a leader in sustainable urban development.
Supported by the Bitten and Mads Clausen Foundation, Sønderborg Kommune, Project Zero, and other key stakeholders, Rethink Cities serves as a megaphone platform to inspire and drive transformative change in other cities worldwide, helping them achieve net zero targets and create resilient, sustainable urban environments.
