Research project

Regiopolises - Between Metropolises and High-Order Centres in the German Urban System

Regiopolises and regiopolitan regions are currently receiving a great deal of attention in urban system research and in spatial planning policy. In spatial planning policy, regiopolises are assumed to be growth and innovation cores outside of metropolitan regions and are thus the bearers of hope for supporting equal living conditions in Germany. In 2019, the conclusions of the Equal Living Conditions Commission recommended “promoting the establishment of the network of regional centres”. The Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport and The Federal Institute for Research on Building, Urban Affairs and Spatial Development are currently implementing this in the “Shaping the Region” programme.

At the same time, from the point of view of urban system research, there is still a lack of clarity as to which functional and spatial dimension can be associated with regiopolises. What are the functions of regiopolises? How can regiopolises be spatially delimited? What is the relationship between regiopolises and their surrounding areas and metropolises and their metropolitan, possibly polycentric, interconnected areas?

These questions will be addressed in cooperation with the TU Dortmund University. Based on a critical review of the previous understanding of regiopolises, a further understanding of regiopolises and proposals for the empirical analysis of regiopolises will be developed.

Publikationen aus dem Projekt

• Growe, A.; Terfrüchte, T. (2022): Bedeutende Städte jenseits der Metropolen? – Regiopolen und ihre Rolle im deutschen Städtesystem. In: Raumforschung und Raumordnung.

Presentations from the project

• Growe, A (2022): Regiopolen als Wissensstandorte - Kleine Großstädte und ihre Rolle in der Wissensökonomie. 2. Fachforum “ Regiopolen und Regiopolregionen für Deutschland – ein Mehrwert für Regionen und ihre Städte!” im BBSR Programm “Region gestalten“, 10.11.2022. Bonn/Online.
• Growe, A./Terfrüchte, T. (2022): Development and supply function: an empirical-functional typification of smaller cities in Europe. Peer Reviewed Online Seminar "Small Towns and Metropolitan Cores: Functional Relations, Spatial Imaginaries and Cooperation Arrangements" of the ARL International Working Group "Small towns and metropolitan cores: towards cooperation?". 21.09.2022, Hannover/Online.