Join our virtual event series Universities & Research Organisations – Key Drivers of Future Smart Cities filled with insights from leading innovation experts from Germany and the UK. In our five-part series we will explore the special roles that universities, research and innovation will play in the future of urban areas.  

Listen to short expert lectures from UK and German representatives, take part in the subsequent Q&A and get actively involved through the breakout sessions. In each event, participants will dive deeper into certain aspects of the respective topic, meet with professionals working on similar issues and share personal experiences. Participants of the event series are keen on engaging internationally and see potential in cross-national cooperation.

The event series is co-organised by the UK Science and Innovation Network Germany (SIN), the German U15, the Imperial College London and BABLE, a young Morgenstadt spin-off facilitating innovation in cities.

Each event will be structured as follows:

Programme

+++ Speaker information will be updated regularly on the event website +++

Post Corona Future - The Role of Cities & Universities

The Corona pandemic is globally a huge shock to societies and cities are often particularly affected by the virus (e.g. New York, Madrid). At the same time, it reinforces, accelerates and changes existing megatrends for cities: their role as hotspots for science and innovation, as labs for social trends, as hotspots for start-ups, as trendsetters and masterminds for politics. In our first session we’ll be addressing key questions like:

• How do we define future cities and what will Corona change?
• What will be the role of science in future cities after Corona?
• What are the most pressing questions for innovative cities in future

Approaches to Transform Cities into Smart Urban Areas

Which political/strategic programmes for future cities are in place – in the UK, in Germany and in other countries? Which role do research and innovation play in this context?

Innovation Districts: Cities as Hotspots for Research and Innovation

How does the urban research and innovation ecosystem work? Why are some cities hotspots for science and innovation and others aren’t? How do society, universities and start-ups successfully work together?

University Campus and Research Architectures of the Future – Are University Campuses Turning into Mini Smart Cities?

How does the future campus looks like? In many future cities the campus is the nucleo for innovation: research, start-ups and living take place together.

Open Science, Open City, Open Society – Interactions between Science, City and Society

Universities and cities have been separated areas for many centuries - now they are growing closely together. Only together can society and universities maintain the trust in facts and truth and avoid populism or fake news.

• Which forms of exchange are there for cities, science and society in future cities?
• Which role does society play for science?