Planning grant for sustainable urban development
Three groups have been granted support for continued planning of their research proposals to Mistra´s large investment in tomorrow´s urban environments — Urban Futures. Seven proposals were submitted in response to the call for a world class center for research on sustainable urban development. All of them were of very high quality.
For more information contact:
Contact persons for the respective proposals:
In May, the Foundation for Strategic Environmental Research (Mistra) invited Swedish universities and colleges to establish a new large-scale interdisciplinary research center focusing on sustainable urban development. Proposals were to involve collaboration with Swedish cities and other investors, including international partners. “Urbanization is a powerful force in the world, and cities are fantastic living environments. But it is time to regroup and further develop cities environmentally, technically, socially, etc. New approaches to, and innovations for, achieving sustainable urban development are needed," says Mistra´s Executive Director Ola Engelmark.
World-class research center
The initiative is for a large world-class research center. The title and main theme of the call is: Urban futures — Rethinking sustainable urban development in an era of globalization, resource constraints and climate change. The future MistraCenter for Urban Futures is intended to be launched in January 2010. The level of financing can be up to 15 million Swedish Crowns for the first two years, after which two four-year periods may be supported.
World Urban Forum
From the seven submissions, Mistra has selected three candidates that will receive grants for further developing their proposals. In preparation for the full-scale application process, Mistra has assembled an international group of experts to provide advice and support to the candidates. The first meeting between Mistra´s expert group and the applicants will take place in conjunction with the 4th World Urban Forum: a UN Habitat conference in China, November 3rd through 6th. During a special session of the conference, the three candidates will be presented, ideas will be discussed and contacts made.
Three canidates
The three candidate proposals are:
- The Göteborg Centre of Excellence on Sustainable Urban Futures from ChalmersUniversity of Technology (Gothenburg) and GothenburgUniversity
- An International Centre for Urban Transformation from the Royal Institute of Technology (Stockholm) and StockholmUniversity, and
- Urban Transformation for a Sustainable Future, from LundUniversity.
The research in the proposal from Gothenburg focuses on:
- Sustainable urban processes and land use
- Socioeconomic and cultural adaptation and change, and
- Managing complex urban contexts and urban management systems.
The following areas are in focus in the Stockholm proposal:
- Ecological systems and infrastructure
- Consumer and producer behavior, and
- Management systems and institutions.
The proposal from Lund identifies the following central research areas:
- Driving forces behind change
- High-quality urban environments and lifestyles, and
- Sustainable urban systems.
All of the proposals involve close collaboration between research groups, cities and the construction industry. In addition, international collaboration is envisioned.
