The 13th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13), to be held in Baku on May 17–22, has introduced a new component — the Business and Innovation Hub — aimed at promoting innovative approaches in the field of housing provision, APA reports.
Through its dedicated programme, the hub will highlight practical solutions, implementation methods, and partnerships covering all stages of the urban development value chain. It will support the development of approaches addressing the global housing crisis within the framework of WUF13’s theme, “Housing for all: safer and more sustainable cities and human settlements,” with a primary focus on innovation, investment, and implementation.
The main objectives of the Business and Innovation Hub are to demonstrate how housing provision is implemented in practice and to create a platform for effective cooperation and coordination.
The programme will bring together private sector representatives and other stakeholders engaged in developing innovative housing and basic service solutions.
Urban development value chain in action
Fifteen sessions on the topic “Practical implementation of the urban development value chain” will be held on the stage of the Business and Innovation Hub.
These interactive sessions will demonstrate how sustainable urban development and adequate housing provision are being advanced through real projects and practices implemented by partners, companies, and business associations.
Reflecting the private sector in all its diversity, the Hub will include a broad range of participants — from large-scale companies to small and medium-sized enterprises, startups, and business associations — while highlighting new approaches related to innovation, technology, and urban development challenges.
The Hub will also contribute to transforming ideas into implementation-oriented approaches and strengthening cooperation in the field of the urban development value chain by promoting exchange among cities, investors, and professionals applying their knowledge in practice.
Support for startup projects and new entities
A special space — the Startup Pavilion — will also be presented at the Business and Innovation Hub, where newly established companies and young entrepreneurs will be able to showcase their innovations.
The Pavilion, which will feature 14 startup projects selected from 10 countries around the world, aims to amplify the voices of new entities and highlight scalable ideas for addressing both housing provision and urban development challenges.
