On 1-2 June 2016, ULI Poland along with partners Poland Today and PropertyEU held the CEE Summit in Warsaw.  This event attracted nearly 150 top real estate players from across Europe and around the world to discuss the opportunities and challenges in Central and Eastern Europe.

Panellists and speakers discussed crucial topics for cities in the region, including technology, innovation, attracting talent, capital markets, and density.

On the first day of the conference, keynote speakers Carl Weisbrod, Chairman of the New York City Planning Commission, and Tom Muphy, Former Mayor of Pittsburgh and ULI Senior Fellow, gave attendees valuable lessons from the urban transformations of New York and Pittsburgh, respectively.

Petr Zemcik, Director of Economic Research at Moody’s Analytics, gave a geopolitical and economic outlook for the region.  His remarks addressed growth rates, volatility, and the impact of immigration and the EU on the CEE region.

A series of panels explored which cities in the region are best at embracing technology and innovation, and how economic and geopolitical trends across the region influence investment, development and growth.

The second day of the conference began with a keynote from Damian Harrington, Head of EMEA Research at Colliers International, on investment trends and prospects for the region.  An international panel of investment experts followed to discuss their top picks in the region.

A subsequent panel discussion addressed the drivers of growth for office, residential, retail and logistics in the region.  This was followed by a panel on ways in which investors, developers and cities can work together for successful urban regeneration.

The day concluded with a closing keynote from Gordon Black, Senior Managing Director of the European Private Real Estate Equity Group at Heitman.  Black discussed the evolution of key themes in the region, including an increasing focus on placemaking, a convergence of standards with Western Europe, and improving politics and transparency.

To view video from the event, please click on the links below:

• Keynote: Carl Weisbrod – Developing the city’s vision and land use strategy in the context of new technology: New York’s Story

• Panel: Innovation, Technology and Real Estate

• Panel: Urban Development, Technology and Innovation: Key Success Factors

• Introduction: CEE Geopolitical and Economic Outlook – Petr Zemcik

• Panel: How will the current trends play out across the CEE region?

• Keynote: Tom Murphy – Pittsburgh’s transformation from a production centre for heavy industry to a knowledge-based economy

• Keynote: Damian Harrington – Investing in the Future of CEE

• Panel: Real Estate Investment – The dynamic of CEE capital markets

• Panel: Megatrends, Urbanisation, Demographics, Innovation: What are the drivers of growth for office, residential, retail and logistics?

• Panel: Regeneration and transformation: Investment for urban development

• Keynote: Gordon Black – How investment will accelerate CEE toward a new urban future