SEC-ORT | Sustainable Event Cities - Olympics, Renewables & Transformation
Transformation Technologies and Sustainable Urban Development in the Context of Urban Mega-Events
The trilateral initiative between the Technical University of Munich (TUM), the University of Queensland (UQ), and the Vienna University of Economics and Business (WU) addresses global challenges in urban sustainability, energy transition, and climate-responsive planning. The project strengthens interdisciplinary cooperation, fosters scientific exchange, and develops innovative solutions for sustainable urban transformation.
At the national level, the consortium is complemented by the Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development (HNEE), which contributes applied expertise in transformation research, participatory governance, and ecological urbanism. HNEE anchors the project regionally and ensures that innovative planning tools are not only globally relevant but also responsive to local socio-spatial realities in Germany.
The initiative focuses on comparative studies of transformation technologies and sustainable urban development, including their role in the context of urban mega-events such as the Olympic Games. Cities like Munich, Berlin, Brisbane, and Vienna serve as case studies to examine how technologies such as photovoltaic rooftop systems, modular extensions, and decentralized charging infrastructure can be integrated into urban planning to support climate goals, local energy autonomy, and sustainable mobility.
A central dimension of the project is communication: how energy innovations and sustainability transitions are communicated to stakeholders and citizens, and how this shapes social acceptance, behavioral change, and public engagement. Both the WU and the TUM teams bring expertise in sustainability communication, stakeholder engagement, acceptance issues, and discourses of change.
The initiative aligns closely with the flagship partnership between the University of Queensland and the Technical University of Munich and has received funding under the Excellence Strategy of the federal and state governments.
Project partners
TUM – Munich School of Politics and Public Policy, Chair of Environmental and Climate Policy (Lead)
UQ – University of Queensland, Australia
Heynen, Tony (UQ)
Witt, Kathy (UQ)
WU – Vienna University of Economics and Business, Austria
Weder, Franzisca (WU)
Höhs, Florentina (WU
HNEE – Eberswalde University of Sustainable Delevopment
Walk, Heike (HNEE)
