Overview

From the 11th to 13th of December, 2014, the 4th Connective Cities Dialogue Event took place at Betahaus, Berlin and brought together German and international local stakeholders who are directly connected to the field of local economic development and start-up promotion.

The participants consisted of city officials in charge of economic development and representatives of start-up promoting institution from German and Asian cities.

For urban socio-economic cooperation, applied research and knowledge work, as well as for the creation of new labour ecosystems or community-based businesses, co-working spaces, incubators and innovation labs are increasingly relevant concepts. They demonstrate new ‘grassroots-driven’ practices of urban coordination, collaboration-centric architecture and technology-based work. The co-creation of socio economic environments following principles of e.g. peer-to-peer commerce and collaborative consumption, is a blooming phenomena that demonstrates the demand for new approaches of life long learning, urban development as well as regional economic development support practice. These functions state that mentioned approaches are relevant and integrative instruments for fostering urban initiatives.  

Keynotes

KEYNOTE by Prof. Dr Klaus Fichter, University of Oldenburg, Germany:
Founder Borderstep Institute for Innovation and Sustainability Germany

Results

The objective of the event was to initiate an exchange of good practices from different cities to address questions of relevant framing factors for the creation of an ideal ‘start-up environment’. Furthermore future collaboration potentials were identified to establish links amongst the German and Asian projects for mutual learning, peer-to-peer advice and common project development. 

Video