ECOCIT is a global network of academic, industry and public sector partners engaged in research whose goal is to make our cities not only sustainable ecologically, but helping them thrive economically: attracting firms, a skilled workforce, and building communities at ease with themselves.
Ecocit will develop a research agenda that brings value to policy makers, practitioners, enterprises and institutions engaged in developing or transforming the next generation of cities. The network will address the planning and policy actions necessary to combine sustainable economic development and sustainable ecological objectives in urban units on the periphery of a mega-city.
• To build an academic, industry and government network to develop key areas of socioeconomic research
• To develop best practice in designing, building and operating ecocities
• To explore the economic and ecological sustainability of cities, environmental technology and engineering
Key topics
1. Challenges in the design, construction and operation of an eco-city with more stringent economic and environmental requirements than adjacent cities.
2. New management paradigms and business models required to support the delivery of eco-city developments.
3. Planning and policy actions required to drive inward investment, attract and retain firms, and harmonise local employment opportunities and human capital.
4. Learning from experience, with the transfer of best practices among eco-city projects on a worldwide basis.
Activities
The activities of ECOCIT encompass the following:
1. A series of joint workshops (both face-to-face and virtual meetings), seminars and lectures to identify and produced targeted research proposals.
2. Development of a website with information resources, forums, decision making tools and process aids.
Visit the ECOCIT website for information on joining the network and gaining access to online forums, public events and publications.