What if we produced more in the city again?
What if we were to mix working (or producing), living and recreation more again?
In which fields and industries does urban manufacturing make sense?
These and other questions were the focus of the presentation on „urban production“, which stopped at the Creative Hub as a travelling exhibition.
Visitors were able to discover interesting information about various forms of urban production, as well as ask critical questions, which led to a future-oriented discourse on the opportunities and challenges that accompany a transforming city. A further focus was placed on the question of how urban production can both be protected and integrated into the cityscape.
The opening event for the touring exhibition at the Creative Hub took place in cooperation with the Klub Dialog and was carried out with the support of the Senator for Economics, Labour and Europe and WFB Wirtschaftsförderung Bremen. To kick off the event, Ms Vogt, Senator for Economics, Labour and Europe, addressed the audience and welcomed the curious guests. This was followed by a keynote speech by Dr Gärtner from the research project „New Spaces for the Productive City“ at the BBSR (Federal Institute for Research on Building, Urban Affairs and Spatial Development). Finally, we welcomed Mr Winter from the Kreishandwerkerschaft (local skilled trades association), Ms Alber from AKB – Angewandte Kunst Bremen, Mr Kastens from Union Brauerei Bremen, Mr Lütjen from Spies Immobilien and Dr Sünnemann from the Senatorial Department for Urban Development (SKUMS) to a panel discussion centred around the question „What challenges are involved in establishing and protecting urban production, and how can it be supported in Bremen?“ Lastly, Dr Kühling from the Department for Economic Affairs (SWAE) gave a summary of the current state of research as well as an outlook on future developments, sending the audience off into an open exchange.
Urban production – what actually is it?
The German Institute of Urban Affairs explains the term as follows:
Due to the increasing digitalisation of production processes and the growing importance of production-related services, the city is gaining new attractiveness as a production location. Production facilities associated with this "urban production" include, for example, manufactories, low-emission urban factories and hybrid forms of Industry 4.0 production. Suitable sectors of the manufacturing industry are considered to be nanotechnology, medical technology and small-scale mechanical engineering. However, the consumer goods and food industries (e.g. clothing/furniture manufacturing, breweries, etc.) also have high potential for urban production due to their affinity for customer proximity. Furthermore, the economic sectors of information and communication technology, the health and creative industries, and urban farming should be mentioned.
Urban production primarily takes place on the edge of the city centre and within the inner city, i.e. in areas with a high functional density and a mix of different uses. Especially in growing cities, however, this commercial space demand for urban production encounters conflicting land uses. The situation is entirely different in less sought-after municipalities or city districts, or those with a declining population. Here, urban production is viewed as an opportunity to revitalise underutilised, vacant or derelict land. It is regarded as a driver for innovative site development, which can also contribute to strengthening regional economic cycles by harnessing local potential and building regional value chains. This applies in particular to the manufacturing sector, agriculture and food, or the construction industry.
Potentials of urban manufacturing
Urban production can contribute to sustainable and resilient urban development and short distances. There are numerous examples of manufacturing businesses that successfully compete in the globalised world market and generate new local value creation.
Would you like to find out more about the starting points and potentials of a Productive City of Bremen?
Then take a look here: https://www.arbeitnehmerkammer.de/fileadmin/user_upload/Downloads/IAW_Reihe/IAW_34_Produktive_Stadt.pdf
Sources:
https://difu.de/nachrichten/urbane-produktion-in-der-stadt-der-zukunft