DRAFT The Scandinavian 8 Million City Guide Trains, Planes & Automobiles Illustration: Sven Neitzel / TS8MC 3 3 countries, 4 metro politan cities, 2 capitals – this is the Scandinavian 8 Million City. The Scandinavian 8 Million City Guide 4 Vision The year is 2025. Oslo is connected by high- speed rail to Copen- hagen. Eight hours travel has been reduced to 140 minutes, and the Oslo ≤≥ Göteborg ≤≥ Copenhagen corridor has become one of the most attractive mega- regions in the world. / TS8MC 7 The Corridor of Innovation and Cooperation 8 million of Scandinavia’s 19.3 million inhabitants live in the 600 km corridor that runs from Oslo, Norway, via Göteborg, Sweden, all the way to the Øresund region’s Malmö, Sweden, and Copenhagen, Denmark . When it comes to an educat- their first steps on a journey and innovation milieus can ed and skilled workforce, this towards a common goal. be enhanced. region is already in the world’s They founded the Corridor of Cooperation over long premier league representing Innovation and Cooperation distances requires an ap- one of the most dynamic and (COINCO), aimed at creating propriate infrastructure, both innovative regions in Europe. a shared corridor between for passengers and freight. But despite sky high ranking Oslo and Berlin via Göteborg, Whilst Europe and the world scores on a dozen European Malmö and Copenhagen. have been expanding their and global scoreboards com- This City Guide finalises the green infrastructure to pared to other economic cen- second stage of this journey stimulate growth – through tres throughout Europe and and moves towards the next. massive investment in high- the world, Scandinavian cities The cities and regions speed rail, for example – such have small and somewhat dis- within this corridor share an investment has been slow to persed populations, with no- ambition to become one of progress in Scandinavia. table concentrations around the world’s most competitive only the three metropolitan mega-regions, simultaneously The vision areas of Oslo, Göteborg, maintaining and developing The Vision for 2025 – the not and Copenhagen/Malmö. In the social and environmental so distant future – is a high- a world where regions are qualities that already make speed rail link that will physi- expanding to attract talent this part of the world unique. cally connect these 8 million and compete globally, this is inhabitants and contribute to a challenge. The philosophy making this mega-region one Development of the COINCO of the world’s most competi- The starting point North is rooted in the philoso- tive. A high-speed rail line In 2005, therefore, the Scan- phy that collaboration forms will allow a traveller to leave dinavian Arena – a joint col- a firm basis for development Oslo Central Station and ar- laboration between the GO- in a globalised world. By ex- rive in Copenhagen approxi- region (Göteborg–Oslo) and ploring the potential of coop- mately 140 minutes later. the Øresund Region – took eration, jobs can be created The Scandinavian 8 Million City Guide 8 Cities are the future New technology for transport and less regulation in trade and finance has opened up the structure of the global economy. Future potential for econom- There are 5 key forces There are a number of key ic development and growth driving the global questions to address are defined by network economy today connectivity and strategic ≥ How to achieve a holistic positions in information and ≥ Urbanisation and demo- and sustainable planning trade communities. graphic growth perspective? Capital can now flow ≥ Transport and mobility ≥ How to attract knowl- more freely across national needs edge intensive global borders. As economic activ- ≥ Climate change and the professionals? ity increasingly takes place transformation into a low ≥ How to attract knowledge on a global scale, the emer- carbon environment intensive companies, gence of new strategic areas ≥ Knowledge intensive investors and tourists? and networks becomes ap- labour markets ≥ How to achieve a transna- parent, resulting in the de- ≥ Regionalisation, networks, tional strategy for balanced velopment of new organisa- governance, competition production and growth? tional structures and cross- and critical mass. border regions. City regions have become the engines in developing the knowledge- “The most important dynamic and information based com- munity. Their performance effect of this project will be the and competitiveness rely on large and integrated employ- knowledge, economy, qual- ity of life, connectivity, urban ment market that is created, diversity, urban scale, social one that stretches from Oslo in capital, politics/framework and image. the north to Copenhagen in the south. This will have a magnetic effect for employees, employers, innovators, and investors.” Knut Halvorsen, Managing Director, Oslo Teknopol Satellite photo: NASA Atocha train station, Madrid Existing Mega-regions and number of inhabitants in million. Satellite photo: NASA / TS8MC 11 Mega-regions: a result of increased mobility “Mega-regions, if they are to function as integrated economic units, require better, more effective, and faster ways to move goods, people, and ideas. High-speed rail accomplishes that, and it also provides a framework for future in-fill development along its corridors.” Richard Florida “Mega-regions,” as defined Potential results by Richard Florida, author for the Scandinavian of The Rise of the Creative 8 Million City: Class, “are large-scale eco- nomic units of multiple large ≥ Higher productivity and cities and their surrounding competitive edge suburbs.” This concept is a ≥ Easier access to skills fundamental building block and talents for professionals contend- ≥ Reduced costs in logistics ing worldwide amidst global ≥ Increased access to sup- competition for knowledge pliers and customers and talent between nations ≥ Greater influence due to and cities. overall increased size ≥ New possibilities for co- Mega-region dynamics: operation and innova- tion across a wide range ≥ Availability of qualified staff of areas ≥ Easy access to markets, customers or clients ≥ More branches of industry and business ≥ Increased competition ≥ Decrease in economic vulnerability The Scandinavian 8 Million City Guide 12 Europe A metro system on a continental scale “How easy it would be to conduct business, take holidays and travel at a different pace around Europe without the headaches of air traffic control and weather delays.” Tyler Brûlé editor-in-chief of Monocle magazine “In 1961 I drew a much-published map of Europe. It showed the major railway routes with the cities where express trains stopped marked red. It looked some- thing like the present-day intercity network. Now and particularly with the appearance of the very rapid trains – the metro system on a continental scale – the Continent City has become a reality.” Yona Friedman French architect and urban planner, founder of Mobile Architecture Sketch of the Continent City Europe, Yona Friedman, 1961 / TS8MC 15 Future challenges for the Scandinavian cities Within a European and global context, Scandinavian cities are geographically marginal. Geography and ≥ The railroad system re- Governance Demographics quires special attention in order to keep up with de- ≥ Mega-region potential can ≥ Compared to economic velopments in Europe and only be translated into centres in Europe and the to overcome transnational benefits by joint action. world, Scandinavian cities transport barriers. have small and somewhat ≥ Stronger ties are required dispersed populations, with ≥ A high-speed rail con- among Scandinavian city concentrations around only nection, including both regions to build up a lead- the four metropolitan areas improved regional and ing arena for mutual learn- of Oslo, Göteborg, Copen- freight trains, is an excep- ing, joint initiatives and hagen/Malmö and Stock- tionally robust strategy exchange of best practice. holm. In a world where crucial to realising the regions are expanding, this mega-region potential. is a problem. ≥ Successful innovation and “Railway is the means of transport further growth require a business environment in which more than any other meets which capital support and the future demands for environ- knowledge can compete on both a global scale and ment, efficiency, capacity, comfort, within a global setting. safety and land development” Infrastructure and mobility Floire Nathanael Daub, project manager, COINCO North ≥ In a knowledge-based economy, geographical proximity and working in clusters are increasingly important. ≥ Cooperation over large dis- tances requires an appro- priate infrastructure, both for passengers and freight. The Scandinavian 8 Million City Guide 16 Demographic power 8 million of Scandinavia’s 19.3 million people live in the corridor between Oslo and Copenhagen COINCO North comprises Knowledge power Infrastructural power three nationalities and four metropolitan cities, includ- ≥ Universities and university ≥ Scandinavia’s two larg- ing two capitals. colleges: 29 est airports: Copenhagen ≥ University students: Airport (Kastrup) and Oslo Covering a population of 260 000 Airport (Gardermoen) 8 million inhabitants, the ≥ Researchers: ≥ 8 international/regional region has the potential to 14 000 airports build strong transnational ≥ Science parks/incubators: ≥ Scandinavia’s largest port markets and clusters. 22 (Göteborg) ≥ New businesses annually: ≥ 9 seaports The corridor also benefits 44 000 ≥ 11 RORO/ferry ports from similar geographi- ≥ 7 kombiterminals cal