Written by SCALINGS team @Wroclaw University of Economics
Panel titled “Co-creation and Scalings in urban energy transition – The case of Wroclaw” was held during the International Conference, Finance and Sustainability, organized by Wrocław University of Economics on 13th December 2019. The event was part of an intervention for SCALINGS project research cases by economists, Piotr Szymański, Magdalena Rozwadowska, Bożena Ryszawska.
The Finance and Sustainability conference covers a variety of issues related to recent financial problems among which: corporate finance, public finance, monetary and fiscal policy issues, risk management. In the sustainability field, it covers issues related to sustainable finance, the transition to the green economy, corporate sustainability and sustainable development.
The conference Finance and Sustainability is part of a growing public debate about climate and renewable energy issues in Poland and globally. The aim of finance in the neoclassic market economy was to maximize profits and shareholders value. The new approach to finance is purpose-oriented, mission-oriented, and value-oriented which is opposite to the traditional role of finance. This approach supports sustainable development, green economy, low carbon economy, adaptation and mitigation of climate change.
A panel was organised as part of the debate on the challenges of modern economics in the landscape of changing market paradigms.
Invited panellists included:
- Adam Błażowski – Product Manager I.LECO (Intelligent Local Energy Communities)
- Marek Dera – Vice President of the Wrocław South Housing Cooperative,
- Paweł Pomian – Eko-Unia Association, Representative of the Youth Climate Strike,
- Julia Rokicka Biorecycling Association, co-founder and board member, Chairwoman of the Green Party Wrocław.
- Maciej Zathey – Director of the Institute of Territorial Development,
- Adam Zawada – Vice President of Wrocław,
At first, we presented our research cases: Housing cooperative Wroclaw, Green Campus of Wroclaw University of Economics and Renewable Energy community Prusice. The panel consisted of scientists, researchers, citizens of Wroclaw and Finance and Sustainability conference participants. The main axis of the discussion were:
- how co-creation practices are carried on in projects in the field of Urban Energy,
- how to scale up co-creation,
- how to integrate society around energy transition,
- how to scale projects in the field of Urban Energy.
Invited guests represented various industries, various types of institutions including universities, local and regional government, private business, NGOs. The panel gathered also local citizens, among them Julia Rokicka, who is a resident of a housing cooperative South. All stakeholders in the discussion although had different backgrounds, dealt with or were involved in projects in the field of urban energy, innovation, regional policies. During the discussion, scientists from the Wrocław University of Economics presented research cases from the SCALINGS project.Participants of the panel including scientists from the Wrocław University of Economics and other universities from different countries visiting the Finance and Sustainability conference debated economic aspects of co-creation and scaling up factors of Urban Energy field. Voices were raised that perhaps financial resources may seem the most important, but are not the defining aspect of scalability of projects. Inclusion of various groups in co-creating financial aspects of the project was perceived beneficial for the overall achievement and results of enterprises. Researchers discussed the conditions for including a wide audience in collaborative practices and how that can promote access to capital for sustainable transition.