On 5 and 6 October 2021, RI-URBANS organized its kick-off meeting which gathered more than 160 attendees including delegates of the 28 European partners, from the European Commission institutions JRC and DG-ENV, as well as EMEP and WHO. The project aims to demonstrate how service tools from atmospheric research infrastructures can be adapted and enhanced to better address the challenges and societal needs concerning air quality in European cities and industrial hotspots. Moreover, the project will respond to urgent needs to substantially reduce air pollution across EU by providing enhanced air quality observations in support of advanced air quality policy assessment.