Oresund RegionRecommendations

By: Kayla Apostolides & Sarah Farooq

Can you guess this band?

• Hint: DJ and Celebrity Big Brother UK

– Basshunter

Can you guess this artist?

• Hint: played in Niagara Falls NYE 2012

Can you guess this celebrity?Hint: vampires and screaming girls

Alexander Skarsgard from True Blood

Finally…

• What countries comprise the Oresund Region?

– Denmark and Sweden

Map

Copenhagen• Capital of Denmark• Annual GDP: 309.87

billion $US• Population: 1.9 Million• Excels in: Life science,

clean tech, and biotechnology

• Official Language: Danish• Creative City Index

Malmo• Second largest city in

Sweden• Annual GDP: 458.97 Billion

$US• Population: 300 000 • Excels in: bio tech,

pharmaceutical, engineering

• Official Language: Swedish• Creative City Index

Numerous programs in place in a variety of sectors

Oresund Bridge

Oresund Bridge

• Completed in early 2000s

• Over 4000 meters

• around 35 million people travel this route every year

• Has helped develop the area into a mega region- with 2.6 million people

• 2012: over 18 000 people commute using bridge; number expected to rise to 45 000

• Commuting has increased by 600%

Results

• Has increased employment throughout the region

• 1.83 million people are working in region, with over 18 000 commuters not included in this number

• Reduced air pollution by 50% as it replaced ferry transport

• increased circular mobility; helped to reduce the shortage of labor in Denmark and has boosted the property market in Sweden

Traffic Levels Across Oresund from 1990-2008

Purpose of Travel with Passenger Car over Oresund Bridge

Oresund Bridge

Issues:

• Congestion

• Maintenance

Recommendations:

• More lanes to accommodate traffic

• Carpool lanes

Issues for the Region

• Diversity• Immigration policies• Taxation and administrative policies• Language barriers

What can be learned?

• Oresund bridge is a prime example of how building infrastructure to increase connectivity between two cities is highly beneficial

• If adopted by other cities can help to form mega regions

• Foreign example: Evvia Greece, with Athens, Greece

Copenhagen Wheel Project

• Initiated at MIT then developed by SENSEable City

• Presented 2009 at COP15 United Nations Climate Conference

• Now in its 3rd year of operation• Funding from Ministry of Enviro to promote a

cleaner environment and reduce the city’s ecological footprint

Wheel Project• Hybrid e-bikes• Allows to store energy

that exerted while cycling and breaking, and reuse it when needed

• Personal trainer; tracks: calories burnt, heart rate, fitness, kilometers biked; all can be accessed through your smart phone

Video

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7y3qIQu3Gc

Wheel Project• Highlights Copenhagen’s

environmental consciousness

• 55 percent of all Copenhageners cycle 1.2 million kilometers daily, which is one of the highest percentages in the world

Wheel Project- Issues

• Lack of data to quantify the impacts of the project

• High cost for charging stations• Aesthetics

Wheel Project- Recommendations

• Alter the design of the bike- number one issue is that “ it is ugly” and too heavy

• Other cities can adapt this idea; however must have the bike infrastructure like Copenhagen

• Mass market to lower costs of charging stations

Big Loop City

• Headed by BIG (Bjarke Ingels Group )

• Aims to connect the suburbs of Copenhagen and Malmo with the CBD

• Connect 20 development zones within the region

• Energy efficient and environmentally savvy strategies

• “ Finger Plan”- centered on S-train commuter rail lines

• Use of LRT

Finger Plan

Video

• http://www.archdaily.com/76482/loop-city-big/

Status

• Construction has yet to begin

• There are finalized plans

• Aims to turn 25% of urban density to areas more like the central city (density of 200%)

• Can provide housing for over 325 000 new residents

• And create more than 280 000 work places

Recommendations

• Another example of region’s attempt to create interconnectivity

• Other cities can learn from these initiatives

• Success will depend on fulfilling initial vision

• Complete with economic efficiency

• Reasonable time frame• Community support• Public/private support

Clean-Tech Clusters

• Home to 610 clean tech companies• Employees more than 120 000 full time

employees• Clean tech sectors include: wind energy, solar

power, smart grid, and green design• Objective: increase: growth in clean tech

companies, entry of clean tech companies

Clean Tech Organization

Results• Since 2010 44% of the cluster hired new

employees

• 51% of the cluster increased turn over in comparison to the 19% in 2010

• 17% of companies obtained a patent in 2011 compared to the expected handful in 2010

• Achieved spinoffs in 12% of companies compared to a stable 13% in 2010

Issues

• Small research firms not showing growth• Gap in services provided by the cluster• Collaborations with only 3 of 11 academic

institutions• No policies to assess impact• Companies– 21% of all clean tech entities have been founded

within the past five years, however only 1% have been formed between 2009-2010

Recommendations• Invest in internal

infrastructure; i.e. provide incentives with larger companies to collaborate with smaller firms

• Should facilitate activities related to:– Knowledge networks– Marketing– Identification of global

markets

Recommendations

• Need to foster partnerships between more academic institutions and members of the cluster– i.e: education and exchange programs

• This will help to enhance diversification in spin off companies

• Foster a culture of evaluation

What can be learned?

• Other regions can also capitalize on their competitive advantage

• Turn ideas into tangible products/services/businesses

• Pioneers of clean tech

Closing Questions

• Do you think any of these programs could be implemented in Toronto?

• What are some advantages or disadvantages that Toronto has to implementing these projects?

The End

Thank you!