Kharkiv’s Economic Strategy approach to the "Science Neighborhood" pilot project: Mayor Ihor Terekhov meets with Foster's team of experts

On February 1, 2024, Mayor of Kharkiv Mr. Ihor Terekhov was joined by representatives of the Norman Foster Foundation (NFF), the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), and professors from Oxford and Harvard Universities, to discuss the development of Kharkiv’s Economic Strategy and its approach to the "Science Neighborhood" pilot project, which is one of five pilot projects based on the vision of the masterplan for Kharkiv.

As presented by Professor Edward Glaeser from Harvard and Professor Ian Goldin from Oxford, the Economic Strategy for Kharkiv will evaluate the pre-war and current economic conditions to set the grounds for rebuilding and modernizing the city’s economy. This will involve the development of an economic assessment to examine how the war has impacted the city’s physical and human resources, in order to understand the city’s needs moving forward. The professors explained that by using this assessment, key areas of need will be identified in line with the Sustainable Development Goals and integrated into the physical master plan. This approach will then be applied to one of the pilot projects in Kharkiv.

The five pilot projects for Kharkiv will focus on the following themes: 1. Heritage Landmark, 2. Housing, 3. River Banks, 4. Industrial Re-purposing, and the 5. Science Neighbourhood. The Pilot Project approach to the masterplan allows for a real case application of the concepts discussed in the overall vision of the masterplan.   

As envisioned by NFF, the Science Neighbourhood will be an iconic, forward looking neighborhood of Kharkiv that will promote the urban, scientific, and economic development of the city.

It will consist of:

  • Modern and energy efficient housing

  • University faculties

  • Innovation generating mechanisms

  • Technology companies

  • Redesigned Barabashova market

  • Natural, sports and public spaces

During the meeting on the Science Neighbourhood pilot project, Mayor Terekhov emphasized that Kharkiv has always been and continues to be an industrial hub in Eastern Ukraine. For this reason, he supported the application of the Economic Strategy to the project. He highlighted that Kharkiv's future economic blueprint needs to focus on preserving and enhancing its manufacturing capabilities to inspire economic growth.

"Creating the city's economic model right now, amidst the war, is critically important for us. I appreciate your suggestion to develop science parks linked to our universities. It could attract more entrepreneurs, IT specialists, and youth. This is paramount for us," noted Mr. Terekhov.

Mr. Terekhov was joined by the NFF team of architects in charge of the Science Neighborhood pilot project, who showcased their latest progress in integrating the Economic Strategy to ensure the Science Neighborhood attracts economic development in the city using the six methods mentioned above.

"The science neighborhood project will instigate economic development by allowing entrepreneurs operating in the area to register their businesses easily and swiftly, without being hindered by unnecessary regulatory hurdles." - Alberto Cendoya, architect from the Design and Technology Unit at NFF

Looking to the future, Mr. Cendoya noted that in addition to the Science Neighborhood pilot project, this year will see the refinement of two more out of the five pilot projects. These projects will focus on themes related to "Housing" and "Heritage".

For more information on the pilot projects for Kharkiv, please visit our webpage https://www.un4ukrainiancities.org/resources

Formulation of the pilot projects and support of the vision for the reconstruction master plans are led by UNECE under the UN4UkrainianCities project, funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and supported by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH.

Source: Igor Terekhov held an online meeting with specialists from Foster's team (city.kharkiv.ua)

Translated by Vladimir Kalashnikov and edited by Anya Magotra.

Editor