What will actually happen when Tegel Airport closes? Answers to this question will be provided at the 10th Public Location Conference on 12 February 2020. In the run-up to the event, partners will talk about the significance of the after-use plans and Berlin’s path to becoming a smart city. Beate Albert, Head of Smart Cities at Berlin Partner für Wirtschaft und Technologie GmbH, is certain that the after-use of Tegel will inspire the entire city and other neighbourhoods.
Mit der Bekanntgabe des BER-Eröffnungstermins rückt auch die Tegel-Nachnutzung in greifbare Nähe. Welche Erwartungen haben Sie persönlich an die Urban Tech Republic und das Schumacher Quartier und welche Bedeutung haben die beiden Projekte für Berlin?
The Urban Tech Republic stands for the future of the city, the importance of technologies and innovations, and the basic democratic idea of Berlin’s smart city concept: the joint development of answers to the challenges of the future. In other words, co-creation between the city, business and science. And not in an ivory tower, but in a living lab, experimental space, test field. With an impact on the entire city and inspiration for other neighbourhoods.
In your view, how far along is Berlin on the path to becoming a smart city and where do you see the greatest need for action?
We have everything we need for a smart city: excellent research, innovative companies and a free basic climate. What is important is to develop a common basic understanding of how this city can function in the future, further investments in analogue and digital infrastructures and the courage to experiment. We are still working on the mindset of togetherness and the common vision for Berlin.
When you think about the future, what would personally be your greatest wish for Berlin in 2030?
For the year 2030, I would like to see a common sense for the vision of where Berlin will be in 2050. The hurdles of the transformation processes of 2020 are behind us. The experiences of our current beacons, Urban Tech Republic and Schumacher Quartier, are being applied in other districts and neighbourhoods of Berlin. Quite simply: Smart City is being lived.
Beate Albert has been working at Berlin Partner für Wirtschaft und Technologie GmbH, the business development and location marketing agency of the state of Berlin, since 2003. Initially as a project manager in location marketing and foreign trade promotion, since 2013 in the Smart Cities division, which she has headed since 2018. Berlin Partner für Wirtschaft und Technologie GmbH will also be at the location conference as one of our partners.
