ADAPT2DC - Adaptation to demographic change

ADAPT2DC partnership aims to develop transferable strategies for the provision of innovative solutions to restructure the management of services and infrastructure in shrinking regions and cities from Germany, Czech Republic, Hungary, Italy, Poland and Slovenia.

The specific objectives of ADAPT2DC are the development of transnational strategies in the field of public infrastructure and services which will help to reduce the maintenance and provision costs in regions and cities under shrinking population conditions. The project aims at finding solutions for regions and small and medium sized cities affected by demographic decline by creating deepened awareness and understanding of the impacts of such decline processes. ADAPT2DC will develop cost effective options and political recommendations for the management of infrastructure and services in these regions and initiate pilot actions to frame and adapt to shrinking processes.

Shrinking regions and cities are becoming a more and more relevant issue in CE. Especially former border regions (Iron curtain) are particulary affected by demographic and social change. On the other hand these regions have large potentials which have to be explored and used. The consequences of demographic change and increasing scarcity of public resources thus require a fundamental review and adjustment of the management and standards of public services and infrastructure in shrinking regions and cities. It has been identified in many recent Commission communications that demographic change is one of the new global issues that CE countries and regions are now facing. The urgency of the situation is highlighted in the “Green Paper on Demographic Change "(2005). Regions need a sufficient framework to be able to share experiences and information and to adapt to the relevant changes or counterface processes in order to be more competitive, more productive and more innovative.

Goals
The overall goal of ADAPT2DC is to develop transferable strategies for the provision of innovative solutions to restructure the management of services and infrastructure in shrinking regions and cities and thus support the sustainable development of european regions by adapting integrated measures and strategies for regional problems at transnational level. Issues of social services are interlinked with transport, accessibility and technical infrastructure and thus cannot be regarded strictly separate if a coherent strategy should be achieved. Small and medium-sized towns and cities as engines of regional development will be enabled to implement a broad range of regional balanced services and infrastructural opportunities to hold and attract inhabitants, entrepreneurs and investors and serve as anchor points for regional development through regional and cross border networking and generating additional long term perspectives for the population.

Objectives

1. the development of transnational strategies in the field of public infrastructure and services which will reduce the maintenance and provision cost in regions and cities under shrinking population conditions
2. to find solutions for affected areas as well as for small and medium cities under demographic decline.
3. the creation of deepened awareness and understanding of the impacts of shrinking
4. to develop cost effective options and political recommendations for management of infrastructure and services in shrinking cities and regions
5. Initiation of pilot projects to frame and adapt to shrinking processes
6. Transferring knowledge at European level and initiate a long-term intensive and continuous dialogue between actors of regional devlopment.

Expected Result
Issues of social services are interlinked with transport, accessibility and technical infrastructure and thus cannot be regarded strictly separate if a coherent strategy should be achieved. Small and medium-sized towns and cities as engines of regional development will be enabled to implement a broad range of regional balanced services and infrastructural opportunities to hold and attract inhabitants, entrepreneurs and investors and serve as anchor points for regional development through regional and cross border networking and generating additional long term perspectives for the population. ADAPT2DC through developing and implementing innovative governance models in shrinking regions and cities will ensure sustainable public infrastructure and public service management and provision by mitigating the financial burden for public budgets caused by oversized infrastructure. This will strengthen the attractiveness of these cities and regions and create social and territorial cohesion.

More info http://www.adapt2dc.eu/adapt2dc/default.aspx