Conclusiones del "Implementation Lab" desarrollado en Manresa en el marco del proyecto europeo REDIS - URBACT.

1. Next on stage...

2. MANRESA
CIUTAT DE SIS PORTES
Implementation Lab
16 – 18 November 2009

3. Manresa needs to organize itself
Multi-layered crisis:
-loss of jobs in construction and manufacturing
-slow strategic re-orientation in SMEs
-low levels of trust, high fragmentation
-credit crunch-capital is scarce
• Current economic strategies are outdated
• Policies and actions are ad hoc
• PC as symbol for identity crisis and lack of direction
Successful economic development requires strategic co-
operation and action plans

4. Strategic level:
Leaders of City, CTM, Universities, Business
Facilitating level
Working groups
1) University-industry co-operation
2) City marketing, branding, identity Parc Central
3) Promoting entrepreneurship
4) Retraining redundant workers
5) Targeted SME support for innovation
Etc.
Each group will have an elected leader, a secretary,
and creates an action plan
Alignment with and input for strategies of Catalonia
Projects and actions

5. Parc Central - Commercial Strategy, Facilities, innovation networking
Process and Partnerships
GOOD: Strong support of stakeholders in general … BUT:
•Problem: doubt in concrete cooperation between different building owners
•Problem: All stakeholders/agents go alone
•Problem: No common benefit of all stakeholders together
Recommendation
Give Parc Central of Manresa a specialized profile in one (or more but only a
few) disciplines!
Involve UPC by giving them the strongest role in defining the extraordinary
profile of PC. Give them an extra benefit to be involved in the PC by
developing this extraordinary profile and to give the Manresa part of UPC a
stronger role in whole Catalonia.

6. Concrete suggestions / next steps
Organize an future workshop and develop a shared future vision of UPC and City
Council. Agree with UPC on a special profil of Parc Central and a unique
facility/laboratory for this profile, which is unique in Spain/Europe.
Combine public investments for CTM building with this unique facility/laboratory.
Give a special local funding for UPCs most interesting discipline to place it in
Manresa. Give local funded space inside Parc Central to UPC. Attract not only
UPC administration but especially unique specialists and professors.
Attract 2-3 wordbest leaders (personally) of the choosen profile to settle down in
Manresa. Offer them best conditions (money, landowning, network)
Promote entrepreneurship with funding for students of both universities. Create a
special outsourcing program for companies and experienced employeers in
Manresa and Spain to „come home“ and start the own business in Parc Central.

7. Identity of the Parc Central
Problem: Doubt to have enough critical mass (knowledge workers) for the parc
Problem: international relations quite poor
Problem: too close to Barcelona (talents go to BCN and rest of world)
What is competitive advantage compared to 20 other parcs?
Why to go with my company to Manresa PC?
Recommendation
Establish Manresa as “Best Side of Barcelona/Catalonia”. Economic crisis gives chance
to offer lowest fees in order to approach people, students, professors, employees from all
over spanish speaking world.
Establish Manresa Parc Central as entering gate to Europe for Spanish speaking
companies in world. Attract international, spanish speaking companies and students by
establishing the one European parc with the best price/value – proposition! (low prices for
living, but great environment, great labs and a lot of sun!)

8. Concrete suggestions / next steps
Bring all stakeholders together in a new organization. Every stakeholder should
bring in own money for common strategic and marketing projects.
Establish a “Best side of Barcelona” marketing strategy, which promotes cheap
prices and good value nearby Barcelona to foreigners.
Make an international marketing campaign for spanish speaking companies and
students. Take chance to use international contacts of IASP, UPC, Microsoft and
other companies…)
Make Manresa inhabitants proud of its knowledge property and culture! Organize
science festivals, OpenDoors-Nights and cooperations with local newspapers to
report about Manresa Science.
Develop a brand of “technological parc” among all the science parks. This parc is not
only about research but production as well.

9. Urban planning observations
Identity and connectivity issues are most important
• Geographic centre of Catalunya
• People do not trust in the values of the city and the area
• What does Manresa stand for (industrial, commercial, nature?)
• Manresa underestimates itself
• Montserrat is the background picture of a city with high potential
• Good products, but lack of good market
• River front, green areas etc.
• Plans for PC are exchangeable, could be anywhere
• People do not know much about the project

10. Observations
• Connectivity is not structured, the crucial problem, lacks on every scale
• Distances for pedestrians, bicyclists to far (especially to and fro the centre)
• Public transport is poor
• Surrounding streets are a barrier
• In PC not enough critical mass for different functions
• The greater Manresa area provides enough potential for better public transport
• A designed process is not visible
• Who is leading?

11. Suggestions
L&P
T
K
S
H&C
H
The city of six gates

12. Suggestions
The city of six gates
• Landmark
• Promotion
• Branding
• Citizen‘s competition
• Architectural competition

13. Suggestions
Public transport

14. Suggestions
Public transport
• Renewal of existing tracks
• Re-organisation
• Creating a spine
• Tram/bus

15. Suggestions
E-bike

16. Suggestions
E-bike
• Scattered all over the city
• Docking stations
• Combine with spine

17. Suggestions
Riverfront

18. Suggestions
River Front
• Commercial area
• Leisure and pleasure area
• Gastronomy
• Combined with inner city CA
• Attractive escalator/elevator

19. Suggestions
Els Dolors

20. Suggestions
Els Dolors
• Mixed use area
• Residential and business
• Extention of the existing city
fabric
• „City goes towards PC“

21. Suggestions
Porosity

22. Suggestions
Porosity
• Road is a barrier
• Build over/build under
• Fresh air supply
• People support
• Animal support

23. Suggestions
Landscape development

24. Suggestions
Landscape development
• Sharpen the exsiting green
belt plan
• Platform with neighboring
communities - benefits versus
egoism
• Dealing with potentials for a
common effort
• Find a „Champion“
• Enterprise for a „greater“
Manresa

25. Suggestions
PC - Restructuring

26. Suggestions
PC - Restructuring
• Make it unique
• Brilliant architecture/Land
mark
• Food market for local
products
• Multifunctionality
• Open to the channel
• Central square and not „cul
de sac spine“

27. Suggestions
L&P
T
K
S
H&C
H
Summary

28. THANK YOU!
MOLTES GRACIES!