Germany launches a pilot project for economic innovation in "Circular Rural Areas".
Between 2021 and 2023, the consulting firm Prognos AG and the Institute for Rural Development (IfLS) carried out a joint research project on behalf of the German Federal Ministry of Housing, Urban Development and Construction (BMWSB) and the German Federal Institute for Architecture, Urban Affairs and Spatial Development (BBSR) entitled "The Potential of the Circular Economy in Rural Areas in Germany and Europe" (Figure 1). Through the analysis of German and European cases, the project delves into the implementation of the circular economy in rural areas and its development potential.
Figure 1 "Recycling-oriented rural areas" pilot project (to be selected within the scope of green rural areas) Source: https://www.bbsr.bund.de/BBSR/DE/forschung/aufrufe/aktuelle-meldungen/kreislaufwirtschaft-circular-rural-regions.html/
Based on the results of these studies, Germany has launched a pilot project called "Circular Rural Areas" to promote circular economy practices in rural areas. The project, which is part of the 2030 Territorial Agenda and will run until 2027, aims to tap the potential of rural areas for the use of bio-based materials and residues to enhance regional resilience, innovation and economic diversification, as well as create new jobs.
The project will identify four rural demonstration areas with initial experience in the field of circular economy, and provide financial support of around 220,000 euros to each region between 2024 and 2027. These funds aim to promote the development and implementation of the circular economy concept and to take concrete measures to promote sustainable development in the pilot areas. At the same time, the project encourages the pilot regions to exchange experiences with other demonstration regions in Europe and partners at different levels to jointly explore successful circular economy strategies. Eligible rural institutions include regional administrations below the state level, semi-public institutions and municipal corporations (e.g. economic development agencies and regional coalitions), local action organizations, other civil society institutions and a combination of the above.
With this initiative, Germany hopes to establish a model of circular economy in rural areas and promote sustainable development. The results of these pilot efforts are expected to be replicated in rural areas in Germany and throughout Europe, and to institutionalize the circular economy, decoupling economic growth from resource consumption and using resources as efficiently as possible in a circular way. Germany expects that these experiences will provide a model for sustainable development in rural areas throughout Europe and around the world. (Tan Xiaohong)
Source: https://www.region-gestalten.bund.de/Region/DE/news/2401/Pilotaktion_KLW.html;https://www.bbsr.bund.de/BBSR/DE/forschung/aufrufe/aktuelle-meldungen/kreislaufwirtschaft-circular-rural-regions.html/
The goal of the German Federal Award for Urban Greening 2024 is sport and health
The Federal Urban Greening Award (Der Bundespreis Stadtgrün) is an important award that recognizes and promotes green spaces and sustainable projects in cities. Established in 2020 by the Federal Ministry of the Interior, Building and Community (BMI), the award is a core component of the 2017 White Paper on Urban Greening, and is awarded every two years, highlighting the importance of urban open space and green infrastructure, such as parks, community gardens, urban agriculture projects, and leisure facilities. The selection focuses on the effective use of these spaces and facilities to promote public health, social interaction and ecological balance, and examines the innovative and functional nature of the project. In addition, the Federal Urban Greening Award encourages cross-sectoral cooperation to promote the sustainable development of green infrastructure in cities.
2024 marks the third time that the Federal Urban Greening Award has been awarded. This year, special attention was paid to the role of urban green spaces in promoting sports and health, with the aim of motivating citizens to participate in more physical activities through innovative green space design, and addressing the potential conflict between nature conservation and leisure activities. The winning project should demonstrate how to improve the network of public spaces, enhance the accessibility of green spaces, and create multifunctional sports and recreational green spaces. These spaces should be socially friendly and provide a variety of activities for children and teens.
The award is open to all German cities with a population of more than 3,000 people, in cooperation with at least one municipal body responsible for public green spaces. As of February 19, 213 projects have been submitted and have been preliminarily reviewed by the Competition Office. The final list of nominees will be announced in the near future. The Federal Urban Greening Award not only recognizes projects that have made great achievements, but also provides a platform for other cities to learn from and work together to build a greener, healthier and more livable urban environment. (Tan Xiaohong)
Source: https://bundespreis-stadtgruen.de/startseite/wettbewerb/; https://bundespreis-stadtgruen.de/
Brief introduction of the winning projects of the last (2022) Federal Urban Greening Award: https://2022.bundespreis-stadtgruen.de/preise/
BMWSB and BBSR at the Digital Construction Professional Exhibition 2024
From February 20 to 22, 2024, digitalBAU 2024 will be held in Cologne, a trade fair dedicated to digital solutions in the construction industry. The German Federal Ministry of Housing, Urban Development and Construction (BMWSB) and the German Federal Institute for Building, Urban Affairs and Spatial Development (BBSR) took part in the exhibition.
Under the theme "Accelerating Construction", BMWSB and BBSR showcased how projects in the Zukunft Bau innovation program can speed up the planning and construction process through digitalization, prefabrication and automation. BMWSB and BBSR are located at booth 300 in Hall 1 of the Cologne Exhibition Center under the title "Research Prototype 0.24", which is itself a demonstration object (Figure 2). Visitors to the booth can experience a digital twin of the building, consisting of a digitally planned and automatically manufactured timber building, with prefabricated elements that can be flexibly combined according to different floor plans. The model, designed by the Open Innovation Laboratory of the University of Applied Sciences in Konstanz, follows the concept of the Wikihouse* building system, which will be further used by the City of Konstanz in its planning projects after the Cologne trade fair. (Zhou Hemeng) UPI
* Wikihouse is an open-source project that aims to simplify the construction process, enabling individuals to design, download, manufacture, and assemble their own housing components.
Fig.2 Visualization of the Zukunft Bau booth
Figure 2 and sources of information:
https://www.bbsr.bund.de/BBSR/DE/presse/presseinformationen/2024/digitalbau2024.html
The above information is contributed by Tan Xiaohong and Zhou Hemeng from the German station of this magazine
Edit | Zhang Yixian Gu Chunxue
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