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Kick-off event "Future Dialogue" on November 5th, 2019
Successful start of the Future Dialogue
Bremen is breaking new ground in commercial area development: For the first time, the commercial development program (GEP) is being developed in a broad-based dialogue with representatives from politics, administration, companies, associations, and the professional public with the support of external experts. The kick-off event on November 5th, 2019 in the Ecos Office Center at Teerhof marked the start. Around 120 key players from Bremen accepted the invitation from the Senator for Economic Affairs, Labour and Europe, Kristina Vogt.
Moderator Frank Schlegelmilch from the Bremen office BPW presented the elaboration process for the GEP. The opening event is intended to involve the business community from the outset and to receive suggestions. In the coming months, specialist dialogues on various topics will offer further opportunities to get involved.
In a keynote speech, Prof. Dr. Guido Spars from the University of Wuppertal took a look at trends and approaches to commercial development in other growing cities. The City of Vienna's strategy for securing and developing areas for work in the city seems particularly promising: "Politicians and the population accept and welcome the ideas of the specialist concept. The zoning works well, creates clarity, and stimulates new ideas. Also, price speculation is declining."
Simone Geßner from the office of the Senator for Economic Affairs, Labour and Europe, together with Sandra Wagner-Endres from Difu and Dr. Arne Sünnemann, Senator for Climate Protection, Environment, Mobility, Urban Development and Housing, concentrated on Bremen: "The GEP 2020 has made a significant contribution to the positive development in recent years. Bremen is currently a growing city. The number of jobs has grown faster than the population in recent years. Commercial development is therefore taking place in close cooperation with the departments of urban development and economics. Bremen is a strong location for manufacturing. At the same time, young people must be encouraged to stay and start their own businesses."
In four workshops on the topics of further development of existing commercial areas, urban production in a productive city, logistics of tomorrow, and places for science and research-related companies, the guests had the opportunity to share their opinion and provide valuable information for the GEP 2030.
The GEP2030 must find answers to the pressing challenges of the future. The need for space is great and our space capacities are limited. Therefore, it concerns also activating existing space, redesigning it, and using it more efficiently. This process can only be managed together with representatives from business, administration, and politics.
Workshops and subsequent panel discussion
In a subsequent panel discussion, Bremen's key players from the creative industries, crafts, logistics, and retail sectors described their views on Bremen as a business location. Ralph Sandstedt from GVZ Entwicklungsgesellschaft emphasized, “Proximity is crucial for business cooperation. The A 281 ring road and sufficient space in the area can contribute to this.” For Dr. Heinz Kierchhoff, Managing Director of team neusta GmbH in Überseestadt, the GEP2030 must define not only quantities but also qualities for commercial space, “In this context, quality also means flexible land use.”
Paula Eickmann from the social enterprise weserholz in Walle reports, “As a young company, it was difficult to find a location that was affordable, centrally located, and visible in the district.” Matthias Winter from the Bremen District Craftsmen's Association agrees with this assessment, “Craftsmen need small commercial premises, preferably in own possession, and close to customers.”
For Dr. Kai Brüggemann, President of the Bremen Industry Club, it is important to think beyond the state's borders, “Bremen also has important scientific research facilities. This needs to be communicated more strongly to the outside world.” Dr. Dirk Kühling, Head of the Economics Department at the Senator for Economics, Labour and Ports, expressed his thanks for the valuable suggestions, “Above all, we have learned that we need to talk to companies when it comes to commercial development.”
There will soon be the next opportunity to do so; a specialist dialog on the topic of logistics is planned for 28 January 2020. The documentation of the kick-off event and further information on the process will be made available on the project website gep2030.bremen.de.
Further development of existing areas
Urban production in a productive city
Logistics of tomorrow
Places for science and research-related companies