What new demands are being placed on cities and regions as places of work in view of economic and demographic structural change, particularly in light of advancing digitalisation? These and other current research questions on urban development were discussed by representatives from the federal government, federal states and municipalities, science and research as well as the business community at the 6th National Urban Development Policy University Day, which took place in Berlin on June 1 and 2, 2018. The annual university conference is organised by the German Academy for Urban and Regional Planning.
aconium was also represented at the event to provide information on the changes in the world of work as well as the resulting challenges and solutions for urban and regional development in presentations and forums. The challenges of regional development play a prominent role in many of aconium GmbH’s projects, whether in broadband expansion, international cooperation within the framework of Interreg or the development of concepts and strategies for the development of tourism and retail.
Following industrialisation and tertiarisation, digitalisation in particular is bringing about new far-reaching changes to the world of work (download specialist dossier on this topic as PDF), including in a spatial context. The speakers at the 6th University Day of the National Urban Development Policy from various scientific disciplines (including social geography, civil engineering and futurology) analysed these changes critically in their presentations, but also highlighted the many opportunities for urban systems that arise as a result.
For example, practical examples were used to present the concept of the “urban fabric”, which aims to bring production facilities back into the city. On the one hand, such urban factories must fit into the cityscape. On the other hand, they offer new impetus and potential to the surrounding neighborhood in particular. In learning factories, for example, further training courses are available for students and trainees or interested citizens. Products can be designed, manufactured and sold on site in so-called FabLabs (fabrication laboratory = open workshops). This is often done together with customers so that they can receive a customised product. This concept is particularly interesting for clothing, shoes, watches, glasses, sports equipment and furniture. The development of new manufacturing methods and technologies such as 3D printing plays an important role in the implementation of this production model.
However, national urban development policy does not – as is often assumed – only affect urban centers, but also rural areas. After all, almost 50 percent of the available funding and research resources flow into small towns and rural regions. In terms of the world of work, these areas face particular challenges such as a shortage of skilled workers, vacant commercial and industrial space and dependence on a small number of large employers.
As part of the themed forum “Rural areas and small towns”, various projects and best practice locations were presented at the 6th National Urban Development Policy University Day, which aim to optimise rural areas and small towns as places to work or which have already been able to establish their attractiveness in this respect. These include, for example, the municipality of Ortrand in the south of Brandenburg, which now has a 97% employment rate thanks to a balanced distribution of traditional craft businesses and large industrial companies. Wendland in Lower Saxony, on the other hand, has managed to transform itself into an attractive working and living environment with the help of conversion and restoration work as well as the construction of new buildings adapted to the townscape.
However, some big questions remain: How much influence can be exerted on the design of cities and communities as business locations? What specifically can an entrepreneur do to make a location more attractive for its employees and skilled workers or, to put it another way, what falls under the term “corporate social responsibility” and when is the line crossed to disproportionate influence over the design of the premises?
With lively discussions and plenty of expert input, this year’s National Urban Development Policy University Day was ultimately able to offer not only representatives of urban development but also of regional development a scientific insight into current issues in this field of research, which is closely linked to the aconium topics.
Photo above: Participants at the 6th Higher Education Day of the National Urban Development Policy on 01.06.2018 in Berlin.
Photo below: Exchange opportunities for participants at the 6th National Urban Development Policy University Day.
Photo credits: aconium GmbH