2024-02-29 15:21
John von Neumann University Kecskemét has unveiled a major real estate and urban development plan for the construction of a Knowledge City, and an Innovation Knowledge Park in Kecskemét.
University. City. Kecskemét. John von Neumann University Kecskemét has unveiled a major real estate and urban development plan for the construction of a Knowledge City and Innovation Knowledge Park in Kecskemét.
Two years of planning and workshop work preceded the urban development concept plan presented recently by John von Neumann University, which will lead to the complete rehabilitation and redevelopment of an Innovation and Science Park next to the University and a neighbourhood in the ‘Homokbánya’ area.
In the spring of 2021, the Foundation for John von Neumann University created and adopted a long-term strategy in which the institution and its maintaining foundation will play a key role in the domestic and international positioning of the city of Kecskemét. Within this framework, the Kecskemét Wise City Knowledge City, and the Neumann Innovation and Technology Knowledge Park will be built.
Under the leadership of the Foundation for John von Neumann University, the university's experts have developed a plan to improve education, scientific development, and the quality of life in the city, which bases Kecskemét's vision on knowledge. The concept calls for the creation of a new urban district, called "Wise City", in the area of today's ‘Homokbánya’, to relieve the historic city centre. The area is planned to be linked to the bloodstream of Kecskemét by a fixed rail link.
The choice of the Homokbánya district is also justified because it is located along the western axis of Kecskemét. Thanks to the fast-growing outlying settlements and the planned new suburban railway line, it will also become the direct western gateway to the University of Kecskemét.
Gábor Zoboki, as the responsible designer, presented the concept plan, which has been prepared together with the city's experts over the past two years. The project includes a concept for a new district that will enhance the attractiveness of the area, with a people-centred, sustainable, smart city approach, and which will offer the potential for a viable lowland urbanism with a vision of a future-oriented way of life.
Norbert Csizmadia, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Foundation for John von Neumann University, emphasised that cities offering life-centred, sustainable, smart technology solutions will be the dominant ones today, those medium-sized cities where the university and the city work closely together. The Neumann model is about the university, urban development and strategic companies working together to create a knowledge ecosystem, and Kecskemét will be one of the pioneers of this.
The Kecskemét Wise City project will bring a new quality of life in the new Knowledge City, which is also integrally linked to two other projects coordinated by the maintainers of the Foundation. At the press conference it was confirmed that the construction of the second phase of the CAMPUS will continue. Alongside the development of the University, an Innovation Space will be built to strengthen the university's role in dual training, and leading market players in the region are expected to be leaseholders. In addition, the University will develop its R&D&I activities by redeveloping the GAMF campus to create the Neumann Innovation and Technology Knowledge Park (NIT), which will strengthen the regional and international position of the Kecskemét region by involving national and international companies in university research and education. This is why it is important that the planning process should involve the university, the city, and the companies in order to create spaces that meet the needs of the emerging needs.
The press conference was also attended by Klaudia Szemereyné Pataki, Mayor of Kecskemét, who said that Kecskemét is now a true university city, and its development is becoming a priority in terms of building its community.
