"Boosting the competitiveness of manufacturing industries: what other cities can learn from Bilbao" by Willem van Winden -URBACT Lead Expert-
Manufacturing industries are still the beating heart of many European industrial city regions. But global competition is tough, and traditional business practices are under fire, challenged by digitalization. How can cities best deal with the challenges of the quite disruptive “Industry 4.0” era? Bilbao provides a good example: In its AS-FABRIK project, it developed a comprehensive concept that offers new training schemes, partnership&alliance formation, actions to speed up digitalization, and boosting innovative startups. Now, other cities with an industrial heritage want to learn how Bilbao did it: Bielsko Biala, Tartu and Timisoara joined Bilbao in the AS-TRANSFER exchange project.