Since the 1960´s it became clear the importance of knowledge for the modern society, when analysing the development of the economic development of the service sector specially in growing cities. In this knowledge society, to have a knowledge institution such as universities, research institutes and think tanks can bring a range of benefits to cities in which they are located. Here are a few examples:

• Economic benefits: knowledge institutions can stimulate local economic growth by promoting entrepreneurship, creating jobs and attracting businesses through highly qualified employees, tourists, and other visitors to the area. They can also generate revenue through tuition and research funding, which can be reinvested in the local community. Many companies are linked to scientific institutions allocated in the City and offer jobs opportunities in the wide range of professional qualifications.
• Social and cultural benefits: knowledge institutions can enrich the cultural life of a city by hosting events, performances, and exhibitions, and by providing access to resources such as libraries and museums. These institutions can also contribute to the education and training of the local workforce, which can lead to increased social mobility and improved quality of life. This may contribute to a more vibrant and cosmopolitan culture in the city. Universities and think tanks can also contribute to the city's international reputation as a centre of learning and innovation, which can attract top talent and further boost the local economy.
• Resilience benefits: the access to knowledge increases the resilience of cities facing global crisis. The recent Covid-19 crisis proved that access to information and the ability to quickly build capacity around new topics can mean shorter reaction times and better policies for the population during challenging times.

The virtual international expert exchange on the 28th of March 2023 is hosted by the city of Heidelberg - Germany, which has a 600 years tradition in the topic and a developed knowledge ecosystem. Other good practices will be presented by the City of Lviv, Ukraine and Novo Hamburgo, Brazil (tbc.).

In the online event, Connective Cities invites municipal experts to discuss how a close collaboration between cities and knowledge institutions can be beneficial for all involved. For this purpose, input from the scientific perspective, as well as good practice examples from the cities, Germany and international guests are welcomed.

Following the presentations, participants are invited to share experiences from their municipalities in an open discussion and to jointly develop possible solutions.

The working language of the event is English.

Registration:

If you would like to attend this event and share your experience, please register via the online registration link on the following website.

Connective Cities Expert Exchange "Science and Cities" - SKEW (engagement-global.de)

(Please note that there may be problems logging in via smartphone at this time. If registration is not possible or you do not receive a registration confirmation, please log in via your computer or contact us. Thank you very much!)

Contact:

If you have any questions or comments about the event, please do not hesitate to contact us. We look forward to hearing from you.

Thiago Garcia, thiago.garcia(at)engagement-global.de ,  +49 228 20 717-2633