Regions for Economic Change – Networking for Results.

1. Regions for Economic Change – Networking for Results. Reshaping Cities – Industry reorganising Urban Economies Brussels, 17 February 2009

2. I. Aims and instruments of the Objective 2 Programme Making North Rhine-Westphalia‘s economy more competitive and adaptable and creating jobs Improving competitiveness by supporting innovation processes and‘strengthening the strengths‘ of the state Achieving convergence by increasing competitiveness in structurally deprived areas Promoting sustainable urban and regional policies Strengthening the entrepreneurial basis Promoting innovation and creating a knowledge-based society Integrated development of deprived inner-city areas Financial aids to SME and start-up assistance Innovation, ‘clusters‘ and support for the development of networks Taking into account urban aspects and demographic trends Addressing development shortfalls in industrialised regions Providing consulting to SMEs and business startups Business-friendly technology and research infrastructures Innovative services Inter- and intra-regional cooperation Source.: Operational Programme (ERDF) NRW, 2007, p. 70; Author‘s illustration Sustainable and eco-friendly development Gender equality and non-discrimination

3. I. Programme areas of the Socially Inclusive City scheme. NETHERLANDS HESSEN RHEINLAND-PFALZ BELGIUM Q.: ILS gGmbH

4. II. Focal funding areas for the priority area 3.1„Integrated Development of Deprived Inner-City Areas“ • New urbanity and image • Improvement of public areas, residential environmentand urban development • Re-use of brownfield sites and abandoned buildings

5. Local economy and employment • Creating an infrastructure for promotingeconomic and employment aspects • Business start-up and portfolio servicing • Social and ethnical integration • Education and school in the neighbourhood • Neighbourhood initiatives • Ecological and energetic improvement • New exposure to the use of atmospheric water • Reduction of CO² in the existing building stock • Neighbourhood management and exchange of experiences • Support for resident-driven measures and private investment • International exchange in networks

6. III. Actions for • Removal of Impediments to Development • An efficient infrastructure andre-use of industrial areas = needed for‚competitive‘ framework conditionsfor industry • Attractive open spacesleading tobetter quality of the landscape = enabling environment for tourist industry, culture and recreation

7. EuropeanCapital of Culture 2010 = Industrial heritage • Environment /ecological sustainabilityand risk prevention = key component of regional economic policy • Rehabilitationof the Emscher-River-System /New Emscher-Valley • Recycling of land

8. Exploitation andcommodification of public areas = Precondition for attracting private-sector investment • Competition =city centre as abusiness location • Focal areas ofregional development strategies =Development ofintegrated sites andurban neighbourhoodsfeaturing new forms ofworking, living and recreation

9. IV. Outlook • Metropolis Rhine-Ruhr: conurbation along the Rhine and Ruhr rivers, extending from Bonn in the south, Duisburg in the northwestund Hamm in the northeast • 20 unitary-authority cities • between 10 and 12 million residents(comparable to London, Paris, Moskau, Istanbul) • Large concentration of higher education facilities:30 universities and polytechnics • Economy: key location for tradeshows, exhibitions etc. • Community: efforts needed to improve integration

10. Urban development trends • Conurbanisation • Specialisation • Fragmentation • Polarisation • Urban dimensions • Integrativeandparticipatory development