Background
Since 2014, the city of Freiburg has been working on transforming the northern industrial area into a model region for sustainability, energy efficiency and resource conservation as part of the climate protection sub-concept.
The founding of the Green Industry Park (GIP) initiative created a platform that networks companies, institutions and research facilities, identifies needs, exchanges knowledge and taps into new innovation potential. Ten years after the start of the project, a comprehensive interim review was to be carried out in order to assess the progress made so far, identify existing challenges and develop a clear strategic perspective for the coming years. The aim was to develop the North Industrial Estate into an energy- and resource-efficient location by 2035 and to make an important contribution to regional climate neutrality.
The solution
In order to implement this task, the city of Freiburg commissioned us, BadenCampus, together with our partners Klimapartner Südbaden and fors.earth, to draw up the interim assessment and develop a strategy for the future. Our solution was based on a holistic approach that combines quantitative and qualitative methods. The basis was a comprehensive data collection from all companies in the Green Industry Park to record key figures on energy consumption, resource efficiency, emissions, mobility management and circular economy. This current data was systematically compared with the baseline values from 2014 in order to visualize progress and identify untapped potential.
In addition, we conducted focus group interviews with representatives of companies, research facilities and institutions to gain qualitative insights. The experiences, challenges and needs of the stakeholders were recorded and integrated into the further process. In several interactive workshops, we developed a vision for the future of the Green Industry Park together with the city of Freiburg, local companies, research institutions and other stakeholders. Building on this, specific key measures were defined to support the site on its way to greater climate protection, energy efficiency and resource conservation. The topics ranged from renewable energies and operational mobility management to communication and cooperation between companies.
We presented the results of the interim assessment and the jointly developed perspectives at the 10th anniversary of the GIP initiative. This now provides a clear data basis and a sound basis for action, on the basis of which the city of Freiburg and all participating companies can shape the transformation process in a targeted manner in the coming years. The project has not only provided valuable insights into the successes and challenges to date, but has also strengthened the network and cooperation between companies, institutions and the city. A shared vision has been developed that will position the Green Industry Park as a model region for sustainable industry in the long term.
