Prof Dr Martin Heidenreich

Topic: Local Worlds of Social Cohesion. The Local Dimension of Integrated Social and Employment Policy

Head: Prof Dr Martin Heidenreich

Staff: Prof. Dr Martin Heidenreich, Katharina Zimmermann, Patrizia (Aurich until 03/2013), Christina Siebolds, Deborah Rice

Short description:Since 1 July 2011, the Centre for European and Transnational Regulations Oldenburg (CETRO) has been coordinating the LOCALISE research project, which is funded by the European Union's 7th Framework Programme for Research. The research project focuses on the question of how policies are designed at the local level in order to develop new perspectives for the long-term unemployed, single parents, migrants and young people. Researchers from France, Poland, Italy, Sweden, Great Britain and Germany are investigating the implementation of so-called activating labour market reforms, such as Hartz IV in Germany, in a local context. To this end, interviews are being conducted with politicians, administrators, social partners and private providers on the one hand, but also with case managers and unemployed people on the other. The focus is on the effects of reformed labour market policies on social cohesion in various European societies.

Duration: 2011 to 2014

Financing: Seventh Framework Programme for Research of the European Commission ( Grant agreementNo. 26768; Project LOCALISE)

Topic: The renewalthroughculture? The role of networks in the projects of modern art museums in the cities of Europe (MUSERESO)

Head: Prof. Dr Gerhard Krauss, Université de Rennes 2

Collaborators: Prof. Dr Martin Heidenreich, Dr Frederic Falkenhagen, Professor Guy Baudelle, ESO-Rennes, Professor Jean-François Polo, Université de Rennes 1, Prof. Beatriz Plaza, University oftheBasque Country.

The establishment of the Guggenheim Foundation in Bilbao (1997) has prompted a number of similar projects in other European cities hit by the decline of traditional industries, attracted by the supposed impact of this equipment on their economic development. Our research focuses on such projects aimed at creating new art museums designed in this spirit. We plan case studies such as the Guggenheim Bilbao and its extension to the reserve Urdaibai, the Beaubourg in Metz, the Louvre in Lens 2, the Folkwang Museum in Essen (Germany), and the new creation of museums located on brownfield sites in Istanbul (Istanbul Modern and SantralIstanbul). Other cases may be included later on. The objective is to clarify the genesis of such cultural projects, by examining the theoretical assumption that only the social embeddedness of their initiators makes possible the realisation and success. We will try to identify the main protagonists of the political and cultural spheres involved locally and then analyse their relationships with two categories of external actors probably playing a central role in the success of a project and for its impact on the economic innovation system: on the one hand, with members of the transnational capitalist class (Sklair) whose glocal agenda leads to building relationships with local elites, and on the other with members of the creative class (Florida) expected to be equally decisive.

Duration: 2011 to 2014

Financing: Own project

Dr Peter Schaal

Research focus: Analysing governance processes in European spatial development.

Sub-project: Development of mission statements for sustainable spatial development in the German-Dutch border region

Head: Dr Peter Schaal (ZENARiO)

Staff: 2

Brief description: In the above-mentioned research focus, methods for the development of mission statements with the participation of the relevant stakeholders are being investigated. In a currently planned sub-project, these methods are to be applied and tested in the area of the German-Dutch Regional Planning Commission (UK Nord). The aim of this sub-project is the systematic development of mission statements for the updating of the Cross-Border Spatial Planning Development Concept (GREK).

Duration: 2013/14

Financing: Lower Saxony State Chancellery, Province of Groningen

Prof. Dr Ulrich Scheele

Topic: Framework plan Hinrich-Wilhelm-Kopf barracks in Cuxhaven-Altenwalde

Management: NWP Oldenburg

Together with ARSU, NWP Planungsgesellschaft is developing a framework concept for a former barracks site covering more than 70 hectares. ARSU is analysing options for an economic subsequent use.

Duration: 2013- 2014

Financing: City of Cuxhaven; Federal Real Estate Agency (BIMA)

Topic: Intensification of cross-border cooperation in the EDR area

Management: PAU Plan Advies Uitvoering Groningen;

Based on an analysis of previous co-operations between the north-west of Lower Saxony and the province of Groningen, the project will develop new priority topics for the new EU funding period.

Financing; Ems-Dollard Business Forum

Duration 2013-2014

Dipl. Ing. Almut Wolff

Topic: Urban planning designs in participatory processes - strategies for their integration and communication

Head: Dipl. Ing. Almut Wolff

Collaborators: Julia Haigh B.A., Daniel Voßkuhl B.A.

Brief description:

The aim of the project is to further develop effective communication structures in participation processes for urban development planning. The central question of the project is how the urban planning process can become more effective at the interface of concrete urban planning designs and the ideas mentioned in participation processes. How can the chronological sequence be sensibly structured (participation based on a concrete design concept or definition of concrete design objectives in the participation process)? And how can the communication of these two elements of planning be organised in a meaningful way?

Two participation processes are accompanied and documented. This is done by analysing the existing project documentation, by participating in the ongoing processes and documenting them, and by conducting interviews with stakeholders from various interest groups.

Duration: since WS 2012

Financing: Jade University of Applied Sciences