Cities across Europe are facing the same challenges: Securing mobility, energy supply, digitalization of infrastructure, sustainable construction, dealing with climate change and much more. Innovation centers in metropolitan regions such as Helsinki, Stavanger and Munich are working on new products and intelligent solutions for liveable cities.
So why not sharing the knowledge, experience and solutions? Why not learning from successful ideas and opening up the access to new markets? Strong networks and international cooperation are needed; we will not be able to tackle the pressing challenges of our time alone - this is exactly where Urban Hub Europe comes into play.
What is Urban Hub Europe?
Urban Hub Europe (UHE) is a network of leading innovation centers that fosters the development of solutions for urban challenges and helps shaping the future of European cities. The network creates a unique platform for sharing knowledge, experiences and ideas. What does that mean? For example, start-ups gain access to important resources, stakeholders, technical know-how and insights into ecosystems across Europe. They can test and refine their solutions in cities under realistic conditions and increase their potential for success in competitive markets.
The Munich Urban Colab co-founded Urban Hub Europe in 2022. The partners are:
- Bloxhub (Copenhagen, Denmark)
- ConTech Lab (Copenhagen, Denmark)
- Estonian Digital Construction Cluster (Tallinn, Estonia)
- KiraHub (Helsinki, Finland)
- Nordic Edge (Stavanger, Norway)
- Smart City Cluster (Malaga, Spain)
Insights UHE Summit 2024
In October 2024, the biannual UHE Summit took place in Helsinki during the Nordic Edge Expo. As representatives of Munich Urban Colab, Julia Christiansen and Tamy Saurer took the opportunity to get to know the Finnish innovation ecosystem and discuss future projects and the expansion of Urban Hub Europe with partners.
The start-up hub of Finland: Maria01
In the search for best practices, a particular focus was on visiting Maria01, one of the leading start-up hubs in Finland. In the former premises of a hospital, which was in operation until 2016, a unique place for tech start-ups has developed. The campus extends over 20,000 square meters and is now home to over 185 start-ups. Many historical elements of the building, such as former surgery rooms, have been neatly converted into modern office space.
Maria01 has initiated a process in which they carefully select start-ups - creating a high-profile and vibrant community. The fixed-term leases of three years promote a dynamic exchange and at the same time enable new start-ups to move into the campus. Local and international companies offer their expertise in monthly consultation hours, and numerous events strengthen the bond between members.
Lots of inspiration and ideas for the Munich Urban Colab: the way in which Maria01 engages in community building is impressive. A digital platform that enables members to communicate with each other and with the hub's team plays a central role. The needs and wishes of the start-ups are regularly assessed and the offers are adapted accordingly. This creates an open exchange that promotes mutual support and the growth of the community.
Another notable feature of Maria01 is the automation of processes. For example, there are explanatory videos for technical devices or for standardized event procedures. This approach simplifies and speeds up daily tasks and allows the team on site to focus on the essentials.
Review of the UHE Summit in Helsinki
The biannual UHE Summit took place this year at KiraHub, which is part of the Maria 01 community. The focus of the event was a review of the joint activities of the past year and a discussion about future goals. Representatives of the various hubs exchanged views on successful projects, challenges and goals of Urban Hub Europe.
One of the highlights was the presentation by Mark Bryan, Senior Foresight Manager at the Future Today Institute in the US. What role do innovation hubs play? What influence do they have in the respective national ecosystems and at European level? According to Bryan, the concept of Urban Hub Europe - a network of international hubs that deal with solutions to urban challenges - is unique and has no comparable counterpart in the US.
In addition to the strategic discussions, the summit also offered the opportunity to get to know local projects. For example, the UHE delegation visited the Wood District and the Confederation of Finnish Construction Industries to gain insights into the Finnish construction industry. At the City Reception in the City Hall, the participants were able to talk to partners of the World Digital Built Environment Conference and make new contacts with representatives of the City of Helsinki.
World of Digital Built Environment (WDBE): Innovations in the construction industry
The trip to Helsinki concluded with the World of Digital Built Environment, a conference organized by Urban Hub Europe member KiraHub. A meeting place for international and local experts from the construction industry. In his keynote speech, Mark Bryan provided insights into future developments in the construction industry and outlined the challenges that the sector will have to face.
The presentation by Amy Peck, founder of EndeavorXR, was also worth remembering. She spoke about the use of the digital twin, which is already being used in Munich, and the development cycles that await this technology in the future.
