Gdańsk–Bremen: 50 Years of Cooperation. Join Us for an International Conference on 16-18 November 2026
The Faculty of Economics will host the international scientific conference “Sustainability, Competitiveness and Security. Perspectives from Bremen and Gdansk” on 16-18 November 2026, jointly organised by the University of Gdańsk and Hochschule Bremen.
The event marks the 50th anniversary of the city partnership between Gdańsk and Bremen and the 35th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Good Neighbourship and Friendly Cooperation between Poland and Germany. It will provide an opportunity to discuss sustainability, competitiveness and security, exchange experiences, and strengthen academic cooperation.
We warmly invite you to join us!
The International Scientific Conference "Sustainability, Competitiveness and Security. Perspectives from Bremen and Gdansk"
50th anniversary of the City Partnership
between the Hanseatic Cities of Bremen and Gdańsk
Organisers:
The University of Gdańsk and the University of Applied Economics in Bremen
16-18 November 2026
Venue: Faculty of Economics, University of Gdańsk, Sopot, Armii Krajowej 119/121, Conference room C301
Monday, 16 November 2026
14:30-17:30 Conference session I: Climate Policy, Environmental Regulation and Sustainability Transition (hybrid session, room C301)
14:30-14.40 Opening of the conference session
14.40-15:00 The Case for Introducing Personal Carbon Trading in the EU after the ICJ Advisory Opinion on Climate Change, Dr Marc Stauch, Hochschule Bremen, School of International Business, online
15:00-15:20 When the Green Deal Hits the Ground: Bremen, the European Green Deal, and the Limits of Decarbonization in a City-State, Dr Shazia Wülbers, Hochschule Bremen, online
15:20-15:40 National Champions and SME Ecosystems in Strategic Sectors: Fostering Market Competitiveness and Sustainable Growth Across European Industrial Models- Evidence from Selected EU Member States, Dr hab. Joanna Bednarz, Prof. UG, University of Gdańsk, on-site
15:40-16:00 Foreign Direct Investment in Sustainable Development in a Turbulent Era, Paulina Pukin-Sowul, MA, University of Gdańsk, on-site
16:00-16:20 Optimizing Bike-Sharing Station Placement in the Gdańsk-Sopot-Gdynia Metropolitan Area: Lessons for Bremen, Dr hab. Tomasz Bieliński, University of Gdańsk, on-site
16:20-17:30 Discussion of Bremen - Gdańsk cooperation and academic networking, all participants - hybrid
Tuesday, 17 November 2026
10:00-11:15 Conference session II and official opening: Bremen-Gdańsk City and Academic Partnership: Reflections on the Past and Perspectives for the Future
Welcome address by the Dean of the Faculty of Economics, University of Gdańsk, Dr hab. Wojciech Bizon, Prof. UG, on-site
Welcome address by the Dean of the Faculty of Economics, University of Gdańsk, Prof. Dr Rainer Lisowski, online
The Hanseatic Heritage: Fifty Years of Cooperation Between Gdańsk and Bremen – sharing remarks and experience
The partnership between Gdańsk and Bremen rooted in centuries of shared maritime traditions, trade relations, and cultural exchange, continues to demonstrate how the Hanseatic spirit of openness, cooperation, and exchange remains relevant in addressing contemporary challenges and building lasting bridges between people and institutions. Universities from both cities have played an important role in building mutual understanding through academic partnerships, student and staff exchanges, joint research projects, and numerous initiatives promoting international dialogue. What shall we plan for the future?
11:30-13:00 Conference session III: AI Regulation and Societal Transformation
11:30-11:50 AI Getting Out of Hand? The Project of AI Regulation with Particular Regard to Gdańsk and Bremen, Prof. Dr Christiane Trüe, LL.M., Hochschule Bremen, on-site
11:50-12:10 Antidiscrimination in 2026: New Developments, e.g. Driven by AI, Require New Concepts, Prof. Dr Martina Harms, Hochschule Bremen, on-site
12:10-12:30 From Greenbelt to Green Infrastructure: Reframing the Environmental Transformation of the Sopot Metropolitan Landscape, Dr hab. Giuseppe T. Cirella, Prof. UG. University of Gdańsk, on-site
12:30-12:50 Scaling Beyond Projects: From Cross-Border Experimentation to Regional Transformation in the Baltic Sea Region, Dr Marta Czarnecka-Gallas, University of Gdańsk, on-site
12:50-13:00 Discussion
13:30-15:00 Conference session IV: Sustainable Energy, Urban Development and Environmental Transformation
13:30-13:50 BESTVILLE – The Energy-Efficient Tiny House Village, Prof. Dr.-Ing. Thorsten Völker, Bremen University of Applied Sciences, on-site
13:50-14:10 Understanding Consumer Acceptance of Chinese and U.S. E-Commerce Platforms in International Markets: An Application of the UTAUT Model, Dr Aleksandra Bielawska, Przemysław Wysiński, MA, Dr hab. Tomasz Bieliński, Dr Zuzanna Borda, University of Gdańsk, on-site
14:10-14:30 The Circular Economy Transition: Challenges and Opportunities. Perspectives from Bremen and Gdańsk, Dr Magdalena Markiewicz, University of Gdańsk, on-site
14:30-14:50 Sustainability-Linked Loans: KPI Selection and Challenges for Young Companies – The Case of Deutsche GigaNetz GmbH, Prof. Dr Rosemarie Koch, Hochschule Bremen, online
14:50-15:00 Discussion
15:30-16:30 Common Research Challenges and New Opportunities for Bremen-Gdańsk Cooperation. Moderated discussion and research networking: identifying potential bilateral research projects, joint publications, and teaching initiatives.
Wednesday, 18 November 2026
9.00-12:00 Conference session V: Nuclear energy, public administration and the energy transition (hybrid session, room C301)
Nuclear Exit, Nuclear Entry: German Lessons and Poland’s Nuclear Energy Programme within the EU Framework, Prof. Dr Lydia Scholz, Hochschule Bremen, on-site
The Oxford-style debate: “Public Authorities Should Prioritise Nuclear Energy in the Transition to a Low-Carbon Economy”
13:30-14:45 Study Visit in the Marshal’s Office of the Pomeranian Voivodeship
15:30-16.30 Visit inside the historic wooden Crane in the National Maritime Museum. Sightseeing in the historic Gdańsk.
About the conference
As Europe faces growing challenges related to sustainability, economic competitiveness, technological transformation, and security, understanding their implications for regional development has become increasingly important. This international conference brings together scholars and practitioners to discuss these issues through the experiences of Bremen and Gdańsk and their metropolitan regions.
On 12 April 1976, the City of Gdańsk and the Free Hanseatic City of Bremen signed an agreement establishing their partnership. In 2026, we celebrate the 50th anniversary of this milestone in the long-standing relationship between the two cities.
The conference is held under the honorary patronage of
the Rector of the University of Gdańsk and the Mayor of the City of Gdańsk.
The event will be held in English and will mark the 50th anniversary of the city partnership between the Hanseatic Cities of Bremen and Gdańsk, while celebrating the long-standing academic cooperation between the partner universities.
We warmly welcome you to participate in this unique meeting!
Place: The venue of the conference is the Faculty of Economics, University of Gdańsk, ul. Armii Krajowej 119/121, 81-824 Sopot, Poland, www.ekonom.ug.edu.pl
