Projects
Partners for Healthy Cities (2007)
The research programme Partners for Healthy Cities is the first result of a strategic partnership between the European Institute for Comparative Urban Research (Euricur), based at Erasmus University, and three other organisations with a strong presence in Rotterdam: construction and infrastructure company Dura Vermeer, housing corporation Com·Wonen and healthcare provider De Stromen Opmaat Groep.
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The occasion for this programme is the observation that Rotterdam has a relatively young population, but not the optimal (living) conditions to fully use their potential. The average life expectancy is relatively low and investments in a healthier urban environment are needed. With the research programme the initiators want to gain knowledge that can help not only the municipality but also companies and institutions – including the partners in the programme – to improve these circumstances. The results of the programme will be presented in 2009, not coincidentally the year in which Rotterdam will promote itself as Europe’s Youth Capital.
In the first stage of the programme Euricur will outline how health and urban development are interrelated. By means of literature research and expert meetings, the state of the art will be analysed, and the need for additional research will be identified. The issue of health will be placed in a broader perspective in which we focus on the development of vital cities that offer citizens and entrepreneurs an environment that offers opportunities. In this stage we will demonstrate that health is a very complex phenomenon, and should be seen in relation to other issues.
In the second stage of the programme the research will address specific sub questions that have not yet been fully answered in the literature, nor in practice. Together the four partners aim to deliver research outcomes that provide new insights not only for Rotterdam but also for other cities concerning the relation between health and urban development. The researchers of Euricur will gather knowledge through case studies in the Netherlands and abroad looking at innovative concepts in health-based urban development. With these case studies we want to find out what concepts in health-based urban development are feasible, and how they can be implemented through strategic partnerships between the relevant stakeholders. Particular attention will be paid to the role of non-public actors: business companies, not-for-profit organisations and institutions.
A PDF version of this research description can be accessed here.
On the 20th of March 2008, the dutch newspaper Algemeen Dagblad published an article about the initiative.
The City of Rotterdam is very enthousiastic about the iniative as can be read here.
Research details
| Title: | Partners for Healthy Cities |
| Project team: | Leo van den Berg, Alexander Otgaar, Jeroen Klijs, Lenneke Wester |
| Cities: | Helsinki, Liverpool, London, Rotterdam, Udine, Vancouver |
| Commissioned by: | Dura Vermeer, Com.Wonen, De Stromen |
| Duration: | 2007-2009 |
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