Specialist event organised by IKM and BBSR on 14/09/2021

Header IKM-Veranstaltung

“Metropolitan Regions after Covid: Shaping Opportunities”

The Corona pandemic is affecting all areas of society and the economy. The longer-term changes are not yet foreseeable, but trends are emerging that could outlast the pandemic – because in many cases the pandemic is accelerating previously existing transformation processes. This concerns, for example, the digitalisation of the world of work, the importance of city centres and stationary retail or people’s leisure behaviour.
These transformation processes should not only be considered in the classic spatial categories, but especially where they affect the reality of people’s lives – i.e. in functional spaces that transcend administrative boundaries, as they are lived and organised in the 11 German metropolitan regions.
What initial conclusions can be drawn from the developments of the pandemic months? How are metropolitan regions experiencing the transformation? And what approaches to solutions are being developed?
This is the topic of the joint digital specialist event of the Federal Institute for Research on Building, Urban Affairs and Spatial Development (BBSR) and the Association of Metropolitan Regions in Germany (IKM).

„Metropolitan Regions after Covid: Shaping Opportunities“:  Tuesday, 14 September 2021 from 12:00 – 15:45 hrs

Mr. Ministerial Director Schwärzer from the Federal Ministry of the Interior, for Building and Home Affairs presents federal activities concerning the topic.
Dr. Markus Eltges, Head of the BBSR, will present the current state of research.

In four thematic forums we will discuss the impact of the Corona pandemic on metropolitan regions:

  • Living and working environments in upheaval! What does this mean for regional planning and development?
  • How do metropolitan regions organise innovation?
  • What are metropolitan regions doing to secure an optimal transport infrastructure as well as trade fairs and congresses?
  • Rethinking tourism and leisure in metropolitan regions

The discussion partners in the thematic forums come from business, science and administration.

Complete programme (German, PDF)