Green oasis to boost innovation in Copenhagen Science City
An inviting and green oasis has been created in the innovation district Copenhagen Science City, thanks to unprecedented collaboration by four partners located next to each other. The oasis has been created in an area that, just a few months ago, was an unwelcoming mess of hedges, hoardings, and bollards all marking the boundaries between individual partners. Following a first-time collaborative process, it now features picnic tables, wildflower beds, a path across the area and new signage.
Four actors, four properties
The space was designed to foster openness and collaboration between local actors University of Copenhagen, University hospital Rigshospitalet, the university college Københavns Professionshøjskole and Royal Library’s UCPH University Library. A challenge to overcome was, that the four actors are located at four different properties.
Collaboration is king
Working across administrative boundaries is fraught with complications. Working across property boundaries usually carries with it a whole new set of challenges. Trying to create an uninterrupted area spanning property operated by four institutions seemed almost impossible, but this first joint building project proves that collaboration is truly working in Copenhagen Science City.
We launched this project with modest hopes that the partners in our innovation district would support us in removing a few hedges and hoardings to create a new urban space that would bring us closer together and facilitate collaboration and innovation. The support for our idea has been overwhelmingly positive and the partners came up with new ideas, which were incorporated in the project. The end result is a wonderful urban space. It is an important part of Copenhagen Science City’s overall vision of physically connecting the different actors across the entire innovation district.”: Kristoffer Klebak, Head of Secretariat, Copenhagen Science City.
Festive inauguration
The space was inaugurated at an event on 1st June with all partners in attendance. The area has already become a popular rendezvous for the many entrepreneurial researchers and student who populate the area where the University of Copenhagen Innovation Centre Lighthouse is also located.
Walkable innovation
Removing hedges and hoardings serve to give the area a safer feel. Picnic tables and flowerbeds should invite local users to stay a while. The new path taps into an existing as well as a planned network of pathways ensuring that Copenhagen Science City remain the most walkable innovation district in the world.
About Copenhagen Science City
Copenhagen Science City is a two square kilometre innovation district in the heart of the Danish capital. Here, University of Copenhagen, University Hospital Rigshospitalet and University College Copenhagen are working to create optimal conditions for students and researchers dreaming of starting a business, and for companies who need to develop, validate or test their products in collaboration with the knowledge institutions.