JPI Urban Europe - Urban Megatrends Study

For a research initiative, such as JPI Urban Europe (http://www.jpi-urbaneurope.eu), analysing the long term trends for urban development is crucial for the strategic focus of the programme. An Urban Megatrend study aims at providing the basis for the integrated, multidisciplinary urban research with a time horizon of 2050+ of JPI Urban Europe. Global megatrends can be observed in cities in distinct ways depending on the characteristics of urban areas. Therefore, a multi-scale analysis of these trends has been conducted. The megatrend categories to be identified are: demographic evolution, climate change and environmental state, science and technology, economic dynamics, built environment and infrastructure and last but not least social-cultural issues. From these categories, a wide set of challenges for urban areas has been derived. Beside a detailed data-based study, an intensive consultation and workprocess with experts and national representatives in workshops aimed and will aim at generating a differentiated picture of the urban development across Europe. The Urban Megatrend Project will be completed in May 2013. Thus, final conclusions can be presented at the conference. This paper summarises our preliminary findings after two workshops and aims at giving an outlook on further research which is going to be conducted.