Amsterdam Has No Lack of Collaborative, Creative Start-Ups

Festival in Varadzin- akovec in Croatia The shopping district of Vilnius in Lithuania WIKIMEDIA.COM GETTY IMAGES

t the Wibaut Building, Willem van Winden of- fers his apologies when the reserved space turns out to be occupied by hard-working students. It Urban is rush hour at the AUAS Abuilding – there is no free space available anywhere for a conversation about the ABCitiEs project, a four-year European research project into the ways in which city governments deal with collaborative initia- research tives of residents, employers, social organisations, and knowledge institutes. There is, however, space available outside, on a bench behind the faculty building, sheltered from busy arterial roads like Wibautstraat Amsterdam has no lack of collaborative, creative and Mauritskade. The bicycle caretakers of the AUAS keep the small square free from start-ups, employers’ associations, and residents’ scooters and bicycles, to the enjoyment of initiatives. How does the municipal government users and hospitality establishments alike. It is a fine example of a neighbourhood initia- deal with them? Over the next four years, the tive from the bottom up, in which the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences (AUAS) municipality plays no part. ‘This is a good example of new parties will be heading a major European research project within the city seeking out collaborations that allow them to take the lead,’ Van to study how local governments can best support Winden points out. ‘The classic example of these types of initiatives. A conversation with this type of collaboration is the shopkeepers’ association in a shopping street, where urban economist Willem van Winden. all the shopkeepers contribute to the annual Christmas decorations, because everyone benefits when more customers are attracted By Peter de Brock to the street.’ But today, there are more par-

ties in the city seeking out collaboration. And they aren’t just bakers, butchers, and greengrocers. There are also new players,

12 | AUAS Business and Economics | Research special The shopping district of Vilnius in Lithuania Eating out in Athens The Amstel Campus on Wibautstraat GETTY IMAGES SHUTTERSTOCK BERT WIS

like residents’ initiatives, start-ups, and In 2008, you were appointed Professor knowledge economy.’ knowledge institutes like the AUAS. of Amsterdam Knowledge Economy The involvement of residents and users in at the AUAS. Now you are Professor of Why is research into urban hotspots so the city should be encouraged. In particular, Urban Economic Innovation. Why did the important? when collaboration between various parties professorship need a new name? ‘We live in an urban world, in which capital leads to a pleasant living and working envi- ‘We have started to look far beyond the cities like London, Berlin or Amsterdam ronment, like in the square where our borders of our city, even beyond the bor- have become magnets for international tal- conversation is taking place. Van Winden: ders of our country. At the time, the idea ent and investments. Major cities offer busi- ‘We are seeing more and more parties con- was that the professorship would focus nesses and residents more opportunities, necting with one another to make the city mainly on research in the Amsterdam re- higher productivity, and higher wages. They more attractive, often at district, neighbour- gion. Ten years on, the name change shows have a wide range of cultural offerings and hood or street level. But how does the mu- that we are not just focused on Amsterdam. options for recreation and consumption, nicipal government deal with this? Should But to be honest, my research was interna- making them more appealing to talent. In they let it take its course or encourage the tionally comparative before that. I believe short, following the recession at the end of collaboration?’ it is a productive way of looking at cities.’ the previous century, major cities seem to The AUAS and the city of Amsterdam be- be the clear winners in a globalised world. lieve it is time for an international study into What is the collaboration like on ‘The Amstel Brewery once stood not far how policy can best be organised to opti- Amsterdam’s Knowledge Mile, the from where we are sitting now, but after it mally support collaborative businesses and section of Wibautstraat where we are was demolished the neighbourhood be- residents’ collectives in urban areas. For the currently sitting? came run-down. And look at it now! There four-year research project, the University ‘The Knowledge Mile shows how the AUAS are a myriad of economic opportunities will receive a 1.5-million-Euro subsidy from and the city can work together. The AUAS here. But to answer the question: how do Interreg Europe, an organisation financed has taken the initiative to connect our Am- you keep the city socially appealing, sustain- by the European Regional Development stel Campus with Wibautstraat and Wees- able, and open for everyone? How do you Fund that supports interregional collabora- perstraat. We are working closely with ensure that residents and businesses can tion. Five cities and urban conurbations will many different businesses, knowledge in- shape the city together? That quest be participating in the ABCitiEs project: stitutes, and other organisations to create a demands international comparative Amsterdam, Athens, Manchester, Vilnius, better and more beautiful environment research.’ and Varadzin- akovec. and to come up with new concepts. It is the first time that the AUAS will be ‘The Knowledge Mile has proved to be a And now you will be leading an interna- research leader of a research project fi- city laboratory where students can carry tional research project into five European nanced by Interreg Europe. A conversation out all manner of innovative assignments. cities from here in Amsterdam. with project leader Van Winden, who, as As a case study, the Knowledge Mile fits ‘The AUAS is both initiator and research professor of Urban Economic Innovation, nicely into our project and is also wholly in leader of the ABCitiEs project. The goal is to has been conducting research into urban line with previous research in my profes- share knowledge concerning the most effec- economics and urban management for sorship into the role of campuses, science tive ways to encourage collaboration. I am many years. parks, and co-working spaces in an urban leading the project, together with Stan

AUAS Business and Economics | Research special | 13 ‘Following the recession at the end of the previous century, major cities are the clear winners in a globalised world’

Piccadilly Gardens in Manchester GETTY IMAGES

Majoor, professor of Coordination of Urban Croatian region of Varadzin- akovec Athens was hit hard by the economic cri- Issues, and Jesse Weltevreden, professor of make this research project special? sis. Does that make the Greeks the most Digital Commerce, and we have a strong ‘Certainly. For years, people behind the for- interesting participants? research team. From the beginning, we in- mer Iron Curtain were forced to work to- ‘In any case, it is the city I am least familiar volved the city of Amsterdam in the project, gether by the communist leaders, for exam- with. But it’s true that incredible collabora- because Amsterdam has also noticed that ple in farming collectives or neighbourhood tion and solidarity was brought about in there is a growing number of the collectives committees. After the fall of the Soviet Un- Athens out of sheer necessity. It’s a very in- within the city that want to help shape the ion and the Warsaw Pact, communism and teresting case in terms of circular econom- city. And here in Amsterdam, they are also collectivism were traded in for capitalism ics. For example, businesses and residents struggling with the question as to whether and individualism. For example, in almost began setting up solar panels on a large such initiatives should be regulated, en- all cities in the former Eastern Bloc, gigantic scale.’ couraged, and maybe even subsidised. The shopping centres were built far outside of other cities participating in this research the city centre, following the American The ABCitiEs project has been allocated project have the same questions.’ model. Now, residents are discovering the 1.5 million Euros in subsidies. Is that adverse impact that this has had on the live- enough for four years of research? How were the participating cities ability of the city. And also, that developing ‘The subsidy from Interreg Europe is meant selected? successful cities requires good collaborative mainly for the first two years, in which we ‘First, we approached the selection process arrangements. They are rediscovering this, will be conducting the actual research. In from the point of view of Amsterdam: which which is an exciting development.’ the last two years, the cities will implement cities would be interesting to include in this the research results and, if possible, adapt project and what partners have we worked And is a former industrial city like Man- their policies. As research leader, we will be with before? We quickly arrived at Berlin, a chester very different? playing a smaller role during the final two city that is developing rapidly. And also, a ‘Yes. In England, the situation is different years of the project.’ city with which we have good experiences because the central government exercises a and relationships. more traditional influence over the devel- What will the students at AUAS notice of ‘But, unfortunately, the research project opment of urban areas. Local governments this research project? didn’t fit in with Berlin’s planning. The have less influence in certain policy areas ‘Of course, the knowledge we acquire will theme of the research project has to be on and the budgets are smaller. This leads mu- be passed on to our students, for example in the political agenda of the participating cit- nicipalities to encourage any initiatives that the Urban Management Master’s degree ies. Participation is not without obligation; come from the bottom up. programme. But the new forms of collabo- it requires significant effort, both financial ‘An additional phenomenon is that the ration in cities are also interesting for other and otherwise. In the end, four other urban Conservatives are currently in power and management programmes. We will also be partners were involved in addition to Am- Labour are traditionally in charge in the ma- publishing academic papers on this re- sterdam: the cities of Athens, Manchester, jor cities. There is enormous tension be- search project. More and more companies and Vilnius, and the Croatian conurbation tween the government and the cities. And it are taking their social responsibilities in the of Varadzin- a k o v e c .’ is completely different from our situation, city seriously. They no longer see the city, where cities have had a large degree of au- neighbourhood or street as a place to make Does the participation of Vilnius and the tonomy since the Middle Ages.’ money, but also as a living room.’

14 | AUAS Business and Economics | Research special