FlexCity
The Research Office for Social Innovation (ROSI) at the WISO Faculty of the University of Hamburg has been awarded a grant of €300,000 from the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). The funding will be used to launch the "FlexCity" project in 2024, which aims to increase the attractiveness of marketplaces by repurposing converted shipping containers as community spaces. Building on the success of the award-winning pilot project 'Ankerplatz Stade e. V.', ROSI will work on the implementation of 'FlexCity' in Stade from 2019, extending the model to other locations via a digital platform with modular components. Jana-Michaela Timm's professorship is responsible for researching the business and organisational model of Ankerplatz Stade e.V..
Using an "all-profit" approach, the initiative involves various stakeholders: municipalities provide public space and finance the raw modules, while companies support the development of the modules in exchange for the presentation of their products and services. For example, in collaboration with the Chamber of Crafts, apprentices gain practical experience in container construction, addressing skills shortages and promoting vocational awareness. The project, which will run for 18 months from 2024, is one of six initiatives selected for BMBF funding in early December. It is part of the BMBF's DATIPilot initiative, which aims to promote research-based innovations that address societal challenges. The initiative aims to rapidly translate research results into practical applications and to support the ongoing establishment of the German Agency for Transfer and Innovation (DATI).
For further information about the project read the University press release here.