Aarhus
The municipality of Aarhus has 307,000 inhabitants, covers an area of 470 km2 and is Denmark’s second largest city - thus the capital of Jutland and the capital of the Central Denmark Region. Aarhus has been a member of Nordic City Network since 2008.
With the ambisious business development plan ”Knowledge for Growth 2010-17-30”, Aarhus aims to be European knowledge hub. Since 1995 the number of employees within the knowledge industry has increased by over 100 %. The city`s main business sectors - besides IT and media, lie in industries like medical and health, food, architecture and design, energy, climate and environment.
Aarhus’ cultural life is wide-ranging and is characterized by both venerable institutions, such as the Aarhus Theatre, Theatre Svalegangen, ARoS Art Museum, Aarhus Concert Hall, the Aarhus Festival and Scandinavian Congress Center, and major new initiatives as the Multimedia House (due to be completed in 2014), the music center ATLAS (opened 2010), Godsbanegården (a new cultural production centre currently being created in a former railway freight yard) and Centre for Architecture, New Technology and Design (AND).
In recent years Aarhus University has made it into the top 100 of the world’s universities. Merged with The Aarhus School of Business, the University has a growing number of students, today counting over 34,000. Other significant university-level education institutions based in Aarhus is the Aarhus School of Architecture, the Danish School of Media and Journalism, the Engineering College of Aarhus and the Aarhus School of Marine and Technical Engineering. Also, Denmark’s largest university college, VIA University College, is located in the city. In total, they create a great opportunity for Århus to continue the strong development of becoming a European knowledge hub for growth and innovation.
3 major challenges
- Continued development and marketing of Aarhus as a leading city of education and knowledge, a European knowledge hub.
- Continued focus on urban development of the City: Development and transformation of the Aarhus Docklands, a new city in Lisbjerg, Ceres Park, Katrinebjerg, Aarhus University Hospital Skejby, Urban Media Space Aarhus (Aarhus’ new main library and citizens’ services centre), Navitas Park, the university and the light rail system.
- Long-term focus areas: Carbon neutrality by 2030, climate plan and European Capital of Culture in 2017.
3 projects related to the knowledge hub
- Climate and energy: Aarhus has set an ambitious goal to become carbon neutral by 2030. Ambitious climate plans now mean that the climate has become a clear focus area in the City of Aarhus. Read more at www.CO2030.dk
- Urban development: The new Aarhus University Hospital Skejby - www.dnu.rm.dk, the Aarhus Docklands - www.debynaerehavnearealer.dk
- European Capital of Culture 2017 - www.aarhus2017.dk