Especially in times of crisis the topic of „efficiency“/„synergy“ plays a mayor role. Platforms are needed to exchange views and experiences. It might be inspiring that some organizations of the sector of urban revitalization follow already this idea for a long time!

Already in 1913 the IFHP (International Federation for Housing and Planning) was founded. Today it is a worldwide network of professional institutions and individuals of many signatures active in the broad fields of housing, urban development and planning.

In 1965 ISOCARP (the International Society of City and Regional Planners ) was founded, a global network which consists of both individual and institutional members. It encourages exchange between planners, promotes the profession in all aspects, stimulates research, improves education and training, increases information and awareness on major planning issues.

Founded in 1974 INTA (International Urban Development Association) is representing Urban practitioners from national governments, local authorities, public and private corporation, association and research institutes.
 

The German-Russian Forum organizes all two years meetings for twin-cities between Germany and Russia. In 2009 the conference took place in Volgograd, in 2011 partners will meet in Rothenburg ob der Tauber . ( Greeting Word )

To document the status quo the European Retail Academy starts in January 2010 to send out questionnaires to analyze the structure and results of the cooperation between the cities. A preview-result will be presented at the City Marketing and Development Congress in Moscow in the end of April 2010.
 

The International Council of Societies of Industrial Design (ICSID) during its World Design Congress in Singapore choose for its bi-annual award Helsinki out of 46 competitors from 27 countries to be the Design Capital in 2012. It follows Turin (2008) and Seoul (2010).

Mayor Jussi Pajunen stressed the importance for such an award for all the region, the universities and training-centers but also entrepreneurs and the society in general. The topic for 2012 will be “Open Helsinki – Embedding Design in Life”. The ambition is to top the present benchmark even by improving the city and the living-situation by new impulses. ( more information ; more impressions )
 

02.11.09: ERES-Workshop Moscow

For the first time in its history the European Real Estate Society (ERES) was running a workshop in Russia. Supported by Prof. Dr. Bernd Hallier, A. Schiller and O. Voytsekhovskiy the group visited retail-outlets like Galerey Aeroport, GUM, ZUM, Manege but also development projects like Moscow-City .

07.10.09: ExpoReal 2009

Despite the global recession Germany’s biggest fair for commercial real estate Munich’s ExpoReal saw 1,580 exhibitors and 21,000 visitors from 73 countries enlarged activity of retailers and also of City-and Regional Marketing.