This September, ULI Europe will hold two events that will bring international experts to cities in Europe to share their insights on innovation and urban regeneration. Supported by Urban Innovation Fund Grants from the ULI Foundation, the two workshops have been developed by ULI in partnership with the cities of Rotterdam in the Netherlands and Poznan in Poland.

Innovation in Urban Regeneration: Rotterdam Innovation Ecosystem

In September, ULI and the City of Rotterdam will partner to organise a two-day event that will bring together an international group of practitioners with expertise working on urban innovation districts. This event will support the City of Rotterdam, which is currently working to create an eco-innovation system and district in the city. Rotterdam seeks to build on this momentum to develop a longer term strategy to establish the city as a centre for innovation in the long term, including the role of the city in driving the innovation activity. Rotterdam would like to ensure that its future plans have been tested and challenged, and that it draws on experience from cities elsewhere in the world.

Innovation districts have emerged in a number of cities around the world in recent years. These districts have the potential to support economic growth and attract investment. They also have the potential to contribute to urban regeneration and placemaking efforts. This event will offer the opportunity for a sharing of knowledge an expertise that will support Rotterdam’s efforts to create a successful innovation district.

The event will feature experts on cities, innovation and placemaking from around the world. These include David Malmuth from the I.D.E.A District in San Diego, Gideon Schmerling from Tel Aviv Start-up City, Julie Wagner from the Brookings Institute and Ian Mulcahey from Gensler.
Following the event, the team will produce a report with findings and recommendations that will be relevant not just to Rotterdam, but other cities tackling similar issues. The report will be launched at ULI’s Fall Meeting in October 2016.

Making transformational projects happen: Strategy and finance for urban regeneration

Delivered in partnership with the city of Poznan, Poland, this workshop will focus on the practical actions that cities can take to develop, promote and obtain financing for urban regeneration projects.

Experience demonstrates that targeted investment in urban regeneration projects can be an important catalyst for improving a city’s fortunes. Cities around the world are transforming underutilised waterfronts, former industrial sites and transport hubs in a way that creates value and enhances city image and profile. Success requires three things: a clear and compelling city vision and strategy, a robust and diverse approach to obtaining finance, and the ability to leverage both to see a complex urban regeneration project from inception through to implementation.

Discussion will focus on what approaches are working well, how to improve current practices, and what lessons can be learned from other cities in Europe and around the world. The discussion around economic strategies will be linked to the topic of governance, with a focus on how good leadership and urban governance based on collaboration between public and private sector can support holistic urban development on the long term. Social entrepreneurship will also be highlighted via presentations of case studies that have adopted this holistic vision to the regeneration of their waterfronts.

This two-day workshop will bring together international experts on both strategic planning and financing for urban projects, with representatives from the public and private sectors in Polish cities. Confirmed speakers include Michael Spies, Tishman Speyer; Professor Louis Albrechts, KU Leuven; Alfonso Martinez Cearra, Bilbao Metropoli-30; and Debra Mountford, OECD.

Following the workshop, ULI will publish a toolkit that will enable other cities to run similar workshops, in order to support urban development and economic growth through targeted regeneration.

This post was written by Sofia Croso Mazzuco, Research and Content Intern