BMBF Programme
Global changes no longer concern individual countries or regions but the world as a whole. The trend towards urbanisation and the increasing number and size of metropolises and "megacities" in
all parts of the world but especially in the developing and newly industrialising countries is a striking example of global change. This restructuring and urban condensation of humankind is happening
at a speed that puts the innovativeness and strategic acumen of politics, economics and civil societies to the test. Metropolises and megacities are focal points of sustainable development because
they give rise to massive problems in all three dimensions of sustainability through the intertwining and compression of fluxes of people, resources, goods and capital. At the same time, however,
opportunities arise for innovation strategies and for the support of efficient, compact and sustainable economic systems and lifestyles.
Viewed from this perspective, such cities are more and more becoming arenas of decision about global sustainable development. The "Megacities of Tomorrow" - rapidly growing metropolises about to approach or pass the threshold of becoming a megacity within a few years - are of particular political interest because they offer the chance for precautionary intervention and targeted urban development in order to prevent economic, social and ecological crises and to preserve or create scope for action. To this end, decision makers require a solid foundation of knowledge from research.
The task of the researchers funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) in this programme will be to work together with research institutions in the selected countries and regions and in close co-operation with local institutions responsible for urban development there in order to devise solutions and strategies for a sustainable configuration of the mega-urban regions of the future and also to implement these ideas in the form of pilot studies. Relevant interest groups from politics, economics and society should be included from the outset so that the research issues addressed can be suited to real, local needs.
Projects will be funded in four stages; the first stage (two years) being a preliminary phase in which the concepts described in the submitted project outlines are refined together with the partner country and prepared for implementation in the three phases to follow (each of three years duration).
Viewed from this perspective, such cities are more and more becoming arenas of decision about global sustainable development. The "Megacities of Tomorrow" - rapidly growing metropolises about to approach or pass the threshold of becoming a megacity within a few years - are of particular political interest because they offer the chance for precautionary intervention and targeted urban development in order to prevent economic, social and ecological crises and to preserve or create scope for action. To this end, decision makers require a solid foundation of knowledge from research.
The task of the researchers funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) in this programme will be to work together with research institutions in the selected countries and regions and in close co-operation with local institutions responsible for urban development there in order to devise solutions and strategies for a sustainable configuration of the mega-urban regions of the future and also to implement these ideas in the form of pilot studies. Relevant interest groups from politics, economics and society should be included from the outset so that the research issues addressed can be suited to real, local needs.
Projects will be funded in four stages; the first stage (two years) being a preliminary phase in which the concepts described in the submitted project outlines are refined together with the partner country and prepared for implementation in the three phases to follow (each of three years duration).
see also: http://www.emerging-megacities.org/
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