conomic change has left its visible footprints in cities and regions with a strong industrial history. The process of tran-sition from heavy resource-intensive production to innova-tion-driven and high technology systems is ongoing, and will remain a challenge in the years to come.

The development of cities, home of most industrial sites in Europe, is strongly bound to the economic success of their industries. Modern industry, on the other hand, relies on competitive business locations and innovating environments. Ceramics cities from all over Europe are show cases of this dependency. The consequences of industrial reorganisation (concentration, relocation) impact largely on cities with a strong ceramics industry, and a lively history in ceramics manufacturing. This not only requires from cities to reshape and adapt, but also from industries to act in mutual interest with cities. It is also vital to keep and develop specific urban identities, building upon prestigious manufacturing tradition.

The example of ceramics cities illustrates that strong dependencies on one sector of the urban economy constitute a significant risk to the economic well-being of cities as a whole. Negative developments impact strongly and draw wider circles. Not only the employees in the industry itself loose their jobs, but also in the supplying companies, having wide ranging effects on social and economic cohesion within cities and regions.

The UNIC (Urban Network for Innovation in Ceramics) network, linking nine ceramics cities in Europe (Limoges, Aveiro, Delft, Pécs, Castellòn, Stoke-on-Trent, Faenza, Cluj Napoca and Seville) has been selected by the Euro-pean Urbact II programme as a thematic Network within the framework of the Thematic pole “cities, engines of growth and job creation”.

The principal challenge which will be addressed within the UNIC network, will be to develop and encourage adequate policy responses, which help cities and their industries in a time of change and economic transition. Reflections on the links between industrial heritage, economic development and innovation policies will be used as a starting point for the setting-up forward strategies and policy approaches. The valorisation of “traditional know-how”, the support of new innovation initiatives and the work on a better match between heritage and innovation will be key topics. The UNIC network is also designed to focus on re-inventing the image of ceramics cities and on reinforcing their «attractiveness» by offering good living conditions, profes-sional development perspectives for more social cohesion at local level. In doing so it shall not only contributes to the goals of the Lisbon and Gothenburg agendas, but also to the Union’s social and economic cohesion objectives.

The proposed network consists of nine European cities with long and vivid histories in ceramics industry and manufacturing. Close cooperation with local stakeholders and interest groups will be just as vital as strong links with relevant regional and national authorities as well as European institutions. The strategies and actions plans will help in identifying possible paths from traditional industry towards a sustainable innovation-driven economy, while preserving and using the cities’ asset of a common, strong industrial “heritage”.

By using the European Commission’s Regions for Economic Change approach, the network will actively communicate its results and contri-bute in creating European tools for managing economic transition in cities. Implementation projects evolving from this network will focus on effective links between research and education, between innovation.

Introduction / 3

NOT FRAGILE: CERAMICS INSIDE

4 / UNIC partnership

Limoges (Lead partner) - Limousin, France. 254 102 inhabitants*

Aveiro - Basse-Vouga, Portugal. 73 626 inhabitants*

Pécs - Dél-Dunántúl, Hungary. 178 190 inhabitants*

Delft - South of Holland, Netherlands. 96 000 inhabitants

Stoke-on-Trent - West Midlands, England. 455 300 inhabitants*

Castellón - Comunidad Valenciana, Spain. 180 000 inhabitants*

Sevilla - Andalousia, Spain. 699 759 inhabitants

Faenza - Emilia-Romagna, Italy. 57 000 inhabitants

Cluj Napoca - Cluj Transylvania, Romania. 343 131 inhabitants*

CITY PARTNERS

The main question that UNIC partners will try to address is :

The analysis of the partner cities allows concluding that, while

there are certainly differences amongst cities, there is a common

understanding of the network’s core topics, in particular in its

dimension of creation of new knowledge (innovation) and creation

of a new identity (attractiveness).

*LUZ : Larger Urban Zone - Year 2004Source : Urban Audit - Regional Policy InfoRegio)

How can local economic communities based on traditional industries, and in particular ceramics, prosper in the rapidly changing, increasingly open global economy ?

URBACT is a territorial cooperation programme, funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), which aims to foster the exchange of experience among European cities and the capitalisation-dissemination of knowledge on all issues related to sustainable urban development.

“Cities to work for cities”

Across Europe, for the first call of proposal of URBACT II, around 251 cities from 27 countries have been rallied to 27 different projects.The URBACT II objectives : • To provide an exchange and learning tool for policy decision-makers, practitioners and other actors involved in developing urban policies. • To draw conclusions and build on exchange of experiences using a thematic approach and expertise. • To disseminate good practices and lessons learned from exchanges to all European cities.• To encourage and assist city policy-makers, practioners and managers of operational programmes to define action plans.

www.urbact.eu

The ideas generated in the networks are expected to find a fast way into implementation. For creating a «two-way-bridge»

between the networkers and the implementers, solid partnerships between cities and their regional or national EU Managing Authorities are vital. These authorities play a key role in delivering EU Cohesion Policy with a total EU budget of around 350 billion Euros (2007-2013) «on the ground». By attaching the Fast Track Label to a network, the European Commission also commits itself to provide with additional support and expertise.

Fast Track label

Regions for Economic Change

«Regions for Economic Change» is a new initiative, created by the European Commission to foster cooperation in the 2007-2013 programming period. It introduces new ways to dynamise regional and urban networks and to help them work closely with the Commission, to have innovative ideas tested and rapidly disseminated into the Convergence, Regional Competitiveness and Employment, and European Territorial cooperation programmes.Networks which have been selected by the European Commission receive the so-called Fast Track Label.

6 / UNIC topics

WG1 - Promoting Innovationin the ceramics sector

WG2 - Strengthening the local ceramics industries

WG3 - Creating an urban ceramics atmosphere Promoting ceramics traditions

as drivers of urban renewal

In the last decade, many plans to support innovation have been elaborated, at European, government or regional level. These plans have involved universi-ties, R&D laboratories, clusters, and economic de-velopment agencies. The ceramics cities are a living example of this innovating energy, by supporting the whole innovation chain and by welcoming on their territory: education, research and development, technology transfer, venture capital, start-up in-cubation, and international promotion of their high technology activities.

The aim of the UNIC network, through this working group, is to assess the coordination and financing of innovation support plans and structures, in the field of ceramics technology, in order to develop future coherent promotion actions.

FaenzaAveiro

Limoges

LimogesCastellón

Cluj Napoca

AveiroPécsDelft

CastellónLimoges

Working Group Leader

SevillaWorking Group Leader

AveiroWorking Group Leader

Porzellanikon Museum (Ext. Expertise)

The ceramics cities have enjoyed rapid expansion thanks to the development of the ceramics industry, and of traditional ceramics factories. The stakes of globalisation call for constant adjustment to new challenges: redevelopment of the industrial base, contacts with local stakeholders (universities, de-signers…), preservation of traditional know-hows, protection of trademarks, anticipation of the labour market evolutions… It is quite paradoxical, but the potential of the ceramics industry is probably rela-ted to its strong geographic location. The close link that exists between the ceramics products and the name of the city they originate from represents an advantage deserving special attention.

In this second working group, the UNIC partners want to identify the best practices devoted to the strengthening of the ceramics industry.

The ceramics industry had a strong influence on the culture and the identity of the cities in which it es-tablished. The urban fabric is a witness of this past, and today, the ceramics cities have the opportunity to offer a second life to an extremely rich industrial heritage (old factories, kins, decoration works-hops…). In addition, the economic activity linked to ceramics didn’t concern only factory production. The cities can promote the important innovations that are using ceramics materials, by integrating them in urban projects (experimental construction, decoration of façades, signage and urban furniture, embellishment of public spaces…)

The partner cities involved in this working group are committed to make the most of the various tradi-tional ceramics aspects and techniques, in order to create a contemporary ceramics urban atmosphere.

5 s u b - t h e m e s fo r

5 Wo r k i n g G ro u p s

Here are the 5 main topics that clearly stand out, as concentrating

the majority of interests and needs from the partners, and where

the UNIC partner cities intend to exchange experiences and good practices in order to optimise a successful economic transition.

UNIC topics / 7

WG5 - Improving the image of the ceramics cities

WG4 - Cultural & artistic potential and promotion of tourism

FaenzaPécs

Limoges

PécsStoke-on-Trent

Cluj NapocaSevilla

Limoges

Working Group Leader

Stoke-on-TrentWorking Group Leader

Delft

It is quite exceptional for a city’s economic resource to be also the basis of its cultural heritage as well as of an artistic production with a high symbolic value. The touristic value of ceramics products has always been supported by public or private museums. The fact that ceramics producers call upon famous contemporary artists to create some pieces, helps renewing the designs and the attraction people have for china. It seems the right time to widen the scope of this attractiveness by building on the worldwide interest for the different European ceramics.

Artists’ residences, biennales exhibitions, par-tnerships between cultural and artistic stakehol-ders and international events contribute greatly to improving the current experiences as well as future ones. This will surely help the cultural and artistic dynamism around ceramics.

Speaking of Delft, Faenza or Limoges is imme-diately reminiscent of earthenware and porcelain. And how could we think about European ceramics without mentioning the famous products from Pécs, Stoke-on-Trent or Aveiro? By gathering cities that share a strong identity linked to the production of ceramics, UNIC aims at exploring its impact on the communities that make today’s city, as well as the impact in terms of image and international fame.

The goal of this working group is to focus on the in-volvement of local stakeholders in the updating of their city’s identity, and on the territorial marketing strategies likely to improve this image.

The 5 identified topics will be addressed thoroughly during the implementation phase of UNIC through the establishment of working groups involving persons from the different partner cities. Each working group should have between 4 and 6 city partners maximum in order to keep the work effective.

2 m a i n WG ’s ex p e c t e d o u t p u t s

Capitalisation of exchangesand results in UNIC toolbox

Feeding each partner’sLocal Action Plan

Conception and production of a playful multimedia tool dedicated to compilation and attractive presen-tation of best practices, successful experiences, past and present stu-dies done in the field of ceramics (innovation / industry / art and de-sign / culture & tourism / urban marketing). This tool aspires to be an alternative to recurrent edited guidelines and CD-Rom by proposing a playful ac-cess to the outputs of UNIC presen-ted in a creative way: productions of Workshops and all information compiled into database.

Through URBACT II programme, UNIC expect all cities to integrate and adapt the outputs of the coope-ration to set coherent future local policies. WG assist the Project Partners in taking benefit of exchanges and best practices to elaborate their own Local Action Plan, connected to European Regional Policies ob-jectives.

8 / UNIC objectives

“Participation at a local level is a core component for developing urban sustainable development”

The European Commission’s Directorate-General (DG) for Regional Policy, acting as lead-DG, is building up a close cooperation with the all its «Fast Track» networks. Considering the broad range of issues addressed by UNIC, also other Commission Services will support the work of the network: the DG Enterprise and Industry, DG Employment and Social Affairs, DG Educa-tion and Culture and DG Research Throughout the duration of the network, the Com-mission will participate in the network meetings, deliver thematic contributions, and where appropriate, also take part to the network’s Working Groups.

The URBACT Secretariat is mainly in charge of :

• Managing the financial and administrative aspects of the Programme. • Supporting and overseeing the activities of the URBACT Programme and the Projects.• Coordinating the capitalisation activities.• Managing URBACT’s communication and dissemina-tion activities throughout Europe. • Contributing to the preparatory work necessary for the day-to-day activities of the Programme’s Monitoring Committee.

The URBACT Secretariat also prioritizes distribu-ting information to Programme’s partners, other external networks and interested parties.

URBACT’s statement

EUROPEAN COMMISSION

URBACT SECRETARIAT

EXPERTISELead Expert

and Thematic Experts

UNIC objectives / 9

The ULSG gathers around each partner city the main local stakeholders related to the issue :

The local (or national) managing authorities of European operational programmes are closely associated to the project meetings and to the definition of the Local Action Plan.

The aim is to foster the collaborative work between municipalities and funding institutions in order to facilitate the implementation of the local action plan.

The local action plans are designed as a solution to tackle the problems faced by the partners.

Considered as a concrete form to the outputs from networking activities, the local action plan will be drawn up on during the implementation phase, in close coope-ration with the local stakeholders.

“Designing innovative local policies inspired by other cities’ experiences and taken into account the local context, is a way to implement effective solutions”

• Universities, ceramic schools• Clusters• Hi-Tech enterprises• Industry and traditional manufactures• Urban planners• Museums, culture & heritage stakeholders• Design and creation

• Economic Development Agencies, Economic Chambers• Managing Authority of European Operational Programme

Members of ULSG take part to mee-tings and actively participate to the definition of the Local Action Plan.

ULSG - Urbact Local Support Group

MA - Managing Authorities of Operational Programmes

LAP - Local Action Plans

Eurico Correia Neves, UNIC Lead ExpertCEO and Founder of INNOVA Europe S.A.R.L., Brussels and of INOVA+ S.A, Portugal

Eurico Neves, CEO and Founder two leading firms in innovation studies, research manage-ment and technology transfer, is a renowned writer in Portugal on the subject of innovation, having published two books on leading national publishers. His mission includes to assist the project in its implementation strategy, and in particular to assist and to animate the working group 1 “Promoting innovation in the ceramics sector” and the working 2 “Strengthening the local ceramics industries”.

Porzellanikon Museum is the biggest Euro-pean special museum for porcelain (located in Selb, Germany). Over the years the museum with its activities tried to give impulses to tourism, offer a forum to the young generation, for art and design.

Having strong experiences in exhibitions, research, contact with educational institutions, and international cooperation, the Porzella-nikon will animate, as external expert, the Working Group 3 “urban integration”.

Under the URBACT II Programme, each project has appointed a Lead Expert to support its activities over the entire duration of the project with methodological and thematic input.In addition, thematic experts will provide their expertise to animate the working groups.

10 / Introduction of city partners

LimogesLimoges, capital city of the Haute Vienne and of the Limousin Region, is the first economic and demographic point in the Atlantic Centre West of France. The city has a population of 140 000 inhabitants and its urban area has a total of 248 000 persons. Each year Limoges welcomes more than 4 000 newcomers seduced by this dynamic metropolis hosted in a peaceful countryside.The multidisciplinary University of Limoges hosting more than 13.000 students and 765 researchers is a core component of the local dynamism.

For more than two centuries, Limoges has been known all over the world for fire crafts, among which the porcelain masterpieces it creates. Its know-how and its creations have made the name of “Limoges” a luxury brand which is appreciated throughout the whole world. Limoges today is an international centre for skills and research in technical ceramics. What was a humble matter has become a high tech material. The European Ceramics Center brings together all the elements involved in the field of ceramics: > Training : ENSCI (the National Higher School of Industrial Ceramics), ENSIL (the National Higher Engineering School of Limoges) and University of Limoges (the Training and Research Unit of the Science and Technology Faculty)> Research laboratories : SPCTS (the Ceramic Processes of Surface Treatments Laboratory) and GEMH (the Heterogeneous Materials Study Group Laboratory)> Technology transfer centres : CTTC (the Ceramic Technology Transfer Centre) and CITRA (the Advances Surface Treatment Engineering Centre)> Businesses : capital venture companies and 57 specialised firms or innovative SME’s such as Saint Gobain, Cerlase, or Imerys.

The Ester Technopole is the flagship of Limoges’ redevelopment towards innovative technology. It accommodates 140 corporate names, which represents 1500 jobs. In this technology park, you can find highly innovative companies as well as various tools (a technology incubator, a business incubator, R&D laboratories, technology transfer centres, a school of engineering…).

The cultural place assigned to china and ceramics is the National Museum of Porcelain, the Adrien Dubouché Museum. Through a wide variety of exhibitions and sites dedicated to fire crafts, Limoges has succeeded in using its industrial heritage to develop a high quality touristic offer. Limoges has recently received the prestigious award of “City of Art and History”, and can play a role in cultural tourism.

Limoges within the UNIC Network As lead partner, the municipality of Limoges aims to initiate a lasting network of ceramics cities having common interest to defend their heritage and to support their local industries.

The main challenge for Limoges, in its transition to a global knowledge economy, is: “to build on the on-going experience of the European Centre of Ceramics (in achieving process) by promoting an integrated approach of urban policies taking into account social, economic, and cultural aspects of the ceramics heritage.

Potential contributions > strong experiences in :• University/industry relations through establishment and promotion of Competitiveness Centres (Pôles de Compétitivité)• Policies promoting heritage related to fire crafts through an Heritage’ Economy Pole

Expectations > UNIC Partner’s experiences in : • Catching local investment, private innovation agents• Developing a more proactive marketing of its image • Improving the usage of its network of museums, factory ateliers and shops, and heritage sites in order to enhance tourism attraction – launching an international ceramics exhibition (summer 2010)• Enhancing the coordination of local and international actors and stakeholders

CONTACT Some ULSG Members

Working Groups

Mr Yann Thoreau la Salleyann_thoreau-la-salle@ville-limoges.fr

Hôtel de Ville, BP 3120 F87031 Limoges Cedex1

Tel +33 (0) 5 55 45 64 23Fax (0) 5 55 45 64 55

www.ville-limoges.fr

Limousin, France

Population : 254 102

• European Ceramic Center

• CRAFT (design association)

• National Museum of Porcelain Adrien Dubouché

• UFPL (traditionnal porcelain manufactures’s association)

Introduction of city partners / 11

The city of Aveiro has a strong industrial culture, where the ceramic industry represents one the most important sectors. Besides it contribution for the economic development of the region, it makes part of its own identity and culture. Currently Aveiro is consider a cluster of the ceramics production of the Nut III Baixo Vouga, concentrating 25% of the total existing ceramics industry in the Baixo Vouga.The most important Portuguese ceramic enterprises are located in Aveiro region. One of those enterprises is Vista Alegre. With 180 years of life, the company has turned its products in a brand image of Portugal outside its bounda-ries, reflecting world wide the good excellence and quality of Portuguese industry.Currently, this sector is undergoing strong competitive pressure from other countries and faces major challenges that can compromise its future. However, there is also a set of development opportunities which the different relevant regional actors have to know how to take advantage in order to increase their capacity to create effective mechanisms to overcome the challenges facing the regional ceramic industry.Among these opportunities we can highlight the «know-how” resulting from the existing industrial tradition, the existence of several internationally recognized companies, various business associations and sectored institutions belonging to the Scientific and Technological System. One of these institutions is the University of Aveiro that, besides its role in training qualified staff for the ceramics sector, presents a set of skills and capabilities of research.

Aveiro within the UNIC projectAveiro is facing a great challenge regarding competition of international markets, a result of globalization and tech-nological evolution. In this economic transition, it is extremely important to promote and maintain the heritage of traditional ceramics activities, as well as R&D and innovation activities. The objectives of Aveiro in the project are to introduce more innovative processes in this industry cluster – ceramics; anticipate, prevent and address the economic, cultural and social consequences of changes; encourage industries to move effectively towards a sustainable innovation economy linking research and education, economy, culture, social and urban promotion.The main challenge for Aveiro within the framework of transition into a global knowledge economy is : “to establish a Centre of Competitiveness in Materials in the City — at the same level as the existent Centre in Telecommunica-tions — grouping the University and the main industry in ceramics and related field, with a national and European relevance and contributing to capture external investment into the area”.

Potential contributions > strong experiences in :• The experience in capturing private R&D investments• Very good level of citizen services, in particular through the development of eservices.• Heritage preservation and conversion in public space as in Cerâmica Campos.

Expectations > UNIC Partner’s experiences in : • Development of Centres of Excellence in the ceramics field.• Management of Training and Qualification Programmes• Marketing strategies and campaigns

Aveiro

CONTACT Some ULSG Members

Basse-Vouga, Portugal

Population : 73 626

Mr Andre Cester Costaaacosta@cm-aveiro.pt

Praça da República,1 3810-156 Aveiro

Tel +351 234 406 300/366Fax +351 234 406 301

www.cm-aveiro.pt

• University of Aveiro

• CICECO (Center for Research)

• APICER (National Ceramic Industry Association)

• IEFP (Professional Training and Employment Institute)

Working Groups

12 / Introduction of city partners

Mrs Gyöngyi Szocsgyongyi.szocs@ph.pecs.hu

Széchenyi tér 1H-7621 Pécs

Tel +36 (30) 600 7465Fax +36 (72) 310 124

www.pecs.hu

Dél-Dunántúl, Hungary

Population : 178 190

CONTACT Some ULSG Members

A dynamic city facing the economic transitionThe city of Pécs, the Hungary’s fifth biggest city, is considered as the cultural and economic centre of South-western Hungary. The city hosts today the most numerous University of the Country, which provides trainings to a number of 34.000 students.Industrialization sped up considerably during the first half of the 19th century - products such as Zsolnay ceramics, Littke champagne, or the Angster organ made the city’s economy widely known and recognized. Many of the factories have been founded in the 1850s and 1860s and have soon become well known in Hungary and have been acknowledged ever since, but most have suffered from the economic transition since the fall of the iron curtain.Due to the economical and political changes which took place at the end of the 20th century, the city’s economy had to face a serious decline which did not spare porcelain industry either. The Zsolnay Factory, an important element of the local identity of the inhabitants of Pécs, was compelled to cut down around 80% of its employees.

Pécs, Cultural Capital of Europe in 2010Our city will be the Cultural Capital of Europe in 2010. Hopefully, this honourable title and the development which it triggers will strengthen further the position of culture and cultural industry in Pécs. The real challenge for the city and for its porcelain industry is to be able to convert the cultural potential accumulated over the centuries into innovative results on the field of economy.

Pécs within the UNIC Network The local industry has undergone a serious downturn due to the recession in the market of tradi-tional industrial products (ceramics, mining). The real estate city centre (mostly national monu-ments) is unutilized in 60-70 % and damaged in consistence. “ The main challenges for Pécs within the scope of UNIC are related with the development of the Zsolnay Cultural Quarter – within the framework of Pécs nomination as one of Europe’s Cultural Capital in 2010 – and the re-shuffle of industrial development ”.

Potential contributions > strong experiences in :• UNESCO Heritage and the mobilisation around the nomination as 2010 European Capital of Culture.• The experience with the Department of citizen services Arts and Design in Pécs University and its contribution to developing local creativity.

Expectations > UNIC Partner’s experiences in : • The management of a Centre of Competitiveness, university – industry Practices• Management of ERDF funds • How to improve citizens services• How to place sustainable development issues in the research and development agenda.

Pécs• Art Faculty of the University of Pécs

• Zsolnay Heritage non profit Public Company

• South-Transdanubian Research Center

Working Groups

Introduction of city partners / 13

Delft

Mr Paulus van Uythoven pvuythoven@delft.nl

Schoolstraat 7NL-2611 HS Delft

Tel +31 15 260 23 53Fax +31 15 213 87 44

www.gemeentedelft.info www.delft.nl

South of Holland, Netherlands

Population : 96 000

CONTACT Some ULSG Members

Delft is a picturesque city of 96.000 inhabitants located in the densely populated Randstad Region (6,7 million inha-bitants) in the western part of the Netherlands. It is situated between the larger cities of The Hague and Rotterdam. Characteristic for Delft is the old centre with ancient canals and historic merchant houses and the presence of the Delft University of Technology (TU Delft). TU Delft is a leading university and offers important technical and scientific programs such as Industrial Design, Material Science and Aerospace Engineering. Nearly 15% of Delft’s inhabitants are students. The university attracts a large number of technology-oriented companies. Delft is, after Amsterdam, the most popular touristic city of the Netherlands, attracting 1 million visitors per year. Delft is world famous for its earthen ware (‘Delfts Blue’) and the 17th century painter Vermeer. In the New Church of Delft the deceased mem-bers of the royal family are being buried.

Once rich in manufacturing and consumption industries (e.g. foods) nowadays the city’s main fields of employ-ment are high tech services and public R&D. The ceramics industry has declined dramatically over the centuries as demand collapsed and production prices steepened. Ceramics in Delft is still a major asset in terms of tourism.

The ceramic tradition, albeit now small in economic terms, is still part of the city heritage. Delft current strategy is to present itself as an innovative city of technology and design.

Delft within the UNIC projectDelft aims at sharing and gaining knowledge and experience on how to modernize and improve the economics of ceramics, creating a triangle production-distribution-consumption. Further challenges are to foster research & technological innovation, in particular in materials and with the tradition of crafts, the value of culture (in a broad sense), vocational training and economic activities in general, in order to fight unemployment, prevent loss of skills and knowledge, and improve social cohesion and related cultural life.The present main challenge for Delft within the scope of the UNIC project is “the reshuffling of the city heritage in ceramics, in line with its marketing strategy, and focused in particular in the creation of the Museum Factory of the Royal Delft factory”.

Potential contributions > strong experiences in :• The largely accomplished transition into knowledge economy, based on a dynamic university and a strong national innovation system• The role of its University, in exploring new industry-oriented courses and research areas• Its marketing strategy and implementation

Expectations > UNIC Partner’s experiences in : • The preservation of cultural heritage and the management of tourism sites and campaigns. • The cooperation and interaction between local politicians (executive) and local stakeholders like TU, industry, cultural institutions, designers, ceramists to promote ceramics as a main asset of the city; the organisation of large scale events

• Fac. Industrial design TU Delft

• Valorisation Center TU Delft

• World Art Center

• Working group Delft Ceramic City

Working Groups

14 / Introduction of city partners

Mrs Rachel Nicholson rachel.nicholson@stoke.gov.uk

Stoke-on-Trent City CouncilCivic Centre, Glebe StreetStoke-on-Trent ST4 1RN UK

Tel 01782 232315Fax 01782 236465

www.stoke.gov.uk

West Midlands, United Kingdom

Population : 455 300

Stoke-on-TrentCONTACT Some ULSG Members

Stoke-on-Trent City Council is based in North Staffordshire which is a sub-Region of the West Midlands in the United Kingdom. Stoke-on-Trent is the second largest City in the West Midlands Region, after Birmingham. Stoke-on-Trent is made up of areas traditionally devoted to indus-trial sectors in terminal decline. The main industries were coal, steel and ceramics but both the coal and steel industries have now ceased to operate in the area and ceramics have drastically reduced their output due to international competition and outsourcing.In the late-1980s & 1990s Stoke-on-Trent was hit hard by the general decline in the British manu-facturing sector. Numerous factories, steelworks, collieries, and potteries were closed, including the renowned Shelton Bar steelworks. This resulted in a sharp rise in unemployment in the ‘high-skilled but low-paid’ workforce. However, at Q2 2004 the unemployment rate had recovered to almost the same as in the wider West Midlands. KPMG’s ‘Competitive Alternatives 2004’ report declared Stoke-on-Trent to be the most cost-effective place to set up a new UK business, which shows the efforts made by the city council through projects such as the ‘North Staffordshire Regeneration Partnership’.

Stoke-on-Trent within the UNIC projectAs the regeneration of the region picks up speed, the UNIC project will be crucial in assisting our area in terms of local sustainability and in particular the increased opportunities for citizens of the North Staffordshire cities, towns, urban and rural neighbourhoods to find sustainable employ-ment within their own regions. It is also essential that we ensure that the organisations which have survived are provided with support networks to enable them to grow and change their busi-nesses to accommodate the new markets and opportunities being brought into the region.The city’s main challenge is “to continue its transformation from a declining manufacturing town into a more competitive economy, building on its rich ceramics heritage to attract knowledge based services and creative industries”. One key element within this strategy is the organisation of the British Ceramics Biennial event, major new project for Stoke on Trent, building on the experience of the Stoke Ceramics Festival 2003-07. The British Ceramics Biennial is intended to become a flagship cultural event that will significantly advance the North Staffordshire Regene-ration Partnerships’ strategies for the cultural industries.

Potential contributions > strong experiences in :• Diversification of educational and research offer at Staffordshire University and Keele University and vast experience in adult qualifications• The experience with the Biennial• Tourism approachExpectations > UNIC Partner’s experiences in : • Marketing campaigns in order to conciliate traditional values with new image.• Research-industry connections

• North Staffordshire Regeneration partnership

• Staffordshire University

• Ceram Research

• Ceramic Industry Forum

Working Groups

Introduction of city partners / 15

Faenza

Mr Giuliano Borghi Giuliano.borghi@comune.faenza.ra.it

Piazza del Popolo31 48018 Faenza ITALY

Tel +39 0 54 66 91 470Fax +39 0 54 66 91 283

www.comune.faenza.ra.it

Emilia-Romagna, Italy

Population : 57 000

CONTACT Some ULSG Members

Faenza is located on the east side of Italy, about half way between Florence and Venice. Since the twelfth century, Faenza is renowned for being a “land of art” and privileged location for the production of pottery. From an artistic point of view Faenza reached the most significant period of its history during the Renaissance. During this period it developed the series of decorative and technical typologies that was to form the nucleos of what would become the traditional “faience” known throughout the world. Over the course of the years these consolidated traditions have enabled Faenza’s artisans and artists to establish original relationships with markets, industry and the design sector. Nowadays the pottery sector no longer has significant revenue-producing weight in Faenza’s economy: only a few industries and about 60 craftsmen produce artistic pottery. However, Faenza’s strength in this field is its network of agencies and services revolving around the local ceramics sector.

Today economic situation of Faenza is characterized by the presence of engineering firms and the manufacture of metal products widespread in the territory. Recently enterprises operating in innovative, skilled segments have shown strong development.

Faenza within the UNIC projectThe major challenge for Faenza is “to reinforce and strengthen the town’s network of agencies and services revol-ving around the local ceramics sector through the creation and development of a Park of Art and Science, which can also play a key role in the city’s urban development – the Torricelli Park”.

Potential contributions > strong experiences in :• The network of research / technological services• Management of European Funds for large projects• Experience in organising large scale events

Expectations > UNIC Partner’s experiences in : • Tourism promotion and increased cultural and animation offer.• Technology Park / incubation management experience• Museo Internazionale della Ceramiche

• Agenzia Polo Ceramico

• ENEA

Working Groups

16 / Introduction of city partners

CastellónMr Juan Fandos juan.fandos@castello.es

Ayuntamiento de Castellón Plaza Mayor, 112001 Castellon SPAIN

Tel + 34 964 23 65 12 Fax +34 964 23 99 00

www.castello.es

Comunidad Valenciana, Spain

Population : 180 000

CONTACT Some ULSG Members

The City of Castellón de la Plana is the head of the Province of Castellón. Located on the Mediterranean coast, Castellón is a part of the Region of Valencia in Spain. The dynamic and enterprising spirit which always belonged to the people of Castellón turned the City into an economic and social nerve center for the whole Province.The economy of Castellón is historically based on the citrus fruits agriculture and the ceramics industry. Both of them are still outstanding in the City’s social structure, at present though the economic sectors like services and tourism also embodied the social structure thanks to the natural environment and the exceptional climate of the area. On the educational field the City has an ambitious university Universitat Jaume I where 30 continuously assessed degree courses are available to more than 13,000 students which offers partnership with more than 200 univer-sities worldwide. Over the last decade the management by the City Government is focused on the potentialization of sustainable growth and social and economic development of the City. The creation of a technology park, the promotion of cultural, training and social facilities, as well as the improvement scheme of the City infrastructure network helped to put it ahead of other neighbouring cities. The ceramics industry is a driving force for the economy of Castellón since 90 per cent of the Spanish ceramics industry is located in its surrounding area. This represents a 1 per cent of Spain Gross Domestic Product. This figures show the strength of this sector which assigns its efforts to innovation and finding new uses and applica-tions for developing ceramics production.Castellón has one of the best economic growth in Spain, the citizens’ support and a close collaboration between public institutions – such as the City Government, employers, trade unions and population groups make it possible. In addition to tourism, ceramics and agriculture are other important industries in the province. In terms of Net Added Value (NAV), the region’s economic structure is very similar to that of Spain and it is also becoming a tertiary economy like the majority of the other advanced economies. Castellón de la Plana is a city which is still strong on growth, with a high quality manufacturing sector and craft industry, and a bustling, modern University Campus. Today, Universitat Jaume I has consolidated itself as a dynamic and enterprising university.

Castellón within the UNIC projectThe main challenge for Castellón within the UNIC project is “to build on the industrial wealth of the region to strengthen the image of the city as centre of attraction with a strong network of service organisations and facilities, including the building of major new exhibition centre, the “Palau de Convenciones”.

Potential contributions > strong experiences in :• The dynamics of its Higher Education System• The use of ceramics in the city streets and buildings

Expectations > UNIC Partner’s experiences in : • Improve research-industry relations• Tourism approach, experience in big events, cultural animation

• Universitat Jaume I (Instituto de Tecnología Ceramica, Insti tuto Interuniversitario de Desarollo Local)

• Instituto de Promoción Cerámica

• Museu de Belles Arts de Castello

Working Groups

Introduction of city partners / 17

Cluj Napoca

Mrs Ramona Bere Integrare@primariaclujnapoca.ro

Str. Motilor, n° 1-3, Cluj-Napoca Judetul ClujROMANIA

Tel +40 264 431 900 Fax +40 264 596 279

www.clujnapoca.ro

Cluj Transylvania, Romania

Population : 343 131

CONTACT Some ULSG Members

Cluj Napoca is the third largest city in Romania and the seat of Cluj County, in north-western Transylvania. The city is one of the most important academic, cultural, industrial and business centres in Romania, the second after the capital. There are 9 universities with more than 85,000 students in Cluj. Among other institutions, it hosts the largest university in the country, Babes-Bolyai University. Cluj-Napoca is Romania’s second-biggest financial and banking center, and it is one of the best developed counties in the country. Its economic potential draws from local resources, many and diverse corporations, a good geographic position and the tradition and expertise acquired in most industries.

The characteristic features defining Cluj-Napoca: a strong industrial potential for processing both county resources and resources from outside the country; an incentive for the technical development of numerous scientific re-search institutes; a great number of education institutions of all levels, ensuring people’s training in a wide range of professions; a rich prestigious artistic activity; a good opportunity for fulfilling a rich artistic potential; a good position at the crossroads of most important highways and railroads connecting it successfully to all regions of the country.

Cluj Napoca within UNIC Regarding the ceramic industry the town is having an important background through the fine porcelain and it was a very important attraction point in this industry in the past, represented by Iris porcelain factory. But now, the ceramics sector is no longer economically relevant in the region, with the last big manufacturer (ISIS) disappearing with the economical changes that followed the change of regime, but a fabric of small familiar companies and craftsmen active in ceramics still exists.

The main challenge for Cluj is to be able to “build on its heritage and foster a renewal of its traditional sectors, with a view of a sustainable growth that is key for the future of the city”.

Potential contributions > strong experiences in :• City promotion and marketing at international level, capture of foreign investments• The fostering of a community of artists and designers, from a university of Arts and Design.

Expectations > UNIC Partner’s experiences in : • Experience of organising large scale events• Innovation Financing and Venture Capital good practices• Good practices in University – Industry relations, in particular the Centre of Excellence experiences.

• University of Art and Design

• Tourism Office

• Investor Office

• local ceramics companies

• Association of small investors in Ceramic sector

Working Groups

18 / Introduction of city partners

SevillaMrs Beatriz Real Heredia breal@sevillaglobal.es

Avda José Galán Merino, s/n 41015 Sevilla ESPANA

Tel +34 954 46 75 55 Fax +34 954 46 75 58

www.sevillaglobal.es

Andalousia, Spain

Population : 699 759

CONTACT Some ULSG Members

Seville is one of the European cities that better reflects the coexistence between an old and a modern city in Europe. An old city that had its splendour in the 16th XVI in which it was one of the majors cities of the continent. Centre of the economic world and the commercial traffics with Ame-rica, but simultaneously a modern city example of development of infrastructures for the economic and the creation of public spaces for innovation, with a strong and dynamic network of technological parks, universities and research centres that have contributed to make the city an attractive space for the investment in areas like aeronautics, agro-industrial, transport, as well as other high tech sectors like electronics or the renewable energies. Thus, in the city of Seville, and in general in the region of Andalusia, fruit of the popular culture of traditional offices, we can find a great variety of artisan works. Crafts and, in particular, ceramics are an excellent part of our patrimony that, due to their quality and variety, have exceeded their borders and have become an emissary of our culture . It is, in addition, an economic activity with specific weight with a big capacity to generate wealth and employment, temporary or stable. This fact supposes one of the main causes of it is beginning to be a sector with a strong importance like generator of an important source of income and that it can contribute to palliate unemployment, without forgetting that it is a sign of the cultural patrimony and an attractive element for the tourism of the region. Like the city, ceramic sector has undergone a transformation process in which more and more tradition and renovation are united in all manifestations and the research on ceramic materials in order to find new applications in other sectors like construction, restoration, rehabilitation of buildings, the aeronautics, etc…

Seville Within the UNIC project The challenge of the City council of Seville through its Delegation of Economy and Employment and its Urban Agency for the Economic Development, Sevilla Global, will contribute to define the present reality of the Seville ceramic cluster and their architectonic picture mapping factories, independent artists, businesses, research centres and associations together with emblematic constructions and historical monuments or ceramic pathways, all in order to visualise the cluster in the city of Seville.

Potential contributions > strong experiences in:• The creation of public space, with a strong and dynamic network of technology parks• The location in Sevilla of new high tech sectors, and in particular aeronautics• The effort in ensuring sustainability of large projects, as Cartuja’92 following the world fair.

Expectations > UNIC Partner’s experiences in : • Better coordination of economic sectors, at the image of the aeronautic cluster.• Better promotion of ceramics heritage

• Sevilla global

• Universidad de Sevilla

• CITIUS (Centro de I&D de la Universidad de Sevilla)• CITANDALUCIA, Junta de Andalucia

Working Groups