van Winden

Willem

van Winden

Validated Lead Expert

Generic Skills

B.1. Understanding of integrated and sustainable urban development:

I have been dealing with integrated urban development for 20 years, as a scientist/researcher but also on a more practical level, working “on the ground” with cities. I studied spatial and urban economics in the 1990s, and in 2003 I obtained my PhD in this field at Erasmus University Rotterdam. Currently, I work as a professor of urban knowledge economy and management at Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences. Also, I run UrbanIQ, a consulting firm specialised in city networks and advice to individual cities, mostly on urban economic and management issues. I am experienced in research and analysis but also in moderating discussions and conveying messages to various types of audiences. I worked as lead expert for two networks under URBACT II: the REDIS project (2008-2011), about knowledge hospots in the city, and EUniverCities (2012-2015) about next generation types of city-university collaboration. I set up a series of training seminars for elected representatives for cities from all over Europe, and I was involved in the capitalisation workstream on “New Urban Economies” under URBACT II. I was member of the organising team of the URBACT summer universities in Cracow and Dublin, and run a series of workshops. I publish frequently in academic and professional journals.

B.2. Understanding of exchange and learning processes at transnational level:

I have substantial experience in facilitating exchange and learning at transnational level: I was lead expert in two URBACT II networks, and the results for both were positive. Also, I ran a series of seminars for about 25 city politicians from several European cities, again with a positive evaluation.

B.3. Proficiency in English:

I have written many books and articles in English; English is the language used in most of the transnational meetings where I have been active.

Expertise for the design and delivery of transnational exchange and learning activities:

Summary Expertise for the design and delivery of transnational exchange and learning activities:

I have a lot of experience in designing and managing transnational exchange projects. I was involved as lead expert in two successful projects with partners from all over Europe: REDIS (about the integrated development of science parks and other knowledge hotspots in the city) and EUniverCities (about next generation types of city-university partnership). I am an experienced moderator, I have experience with many working methods and meeting set-ups. I love to create an atmosphere where people find a common purpose and inspire each other to learn and do a better job at home.

Thematic expertise:

Theme / Policy:

Local Governance

Summary Thematic expertise:

Theme / Policy:

Local Economic Development

Summary Thematic expertise:

My main thematic experience lies in the fields of local governance, knowledge economy & innovation, new economic development strategies, triple/quadruple helix collaboration/co-creation, new business models for smart city development, and the development of “knowledge hotspots” in the city. In each of these fields, I have done a substantial number of case studies, published books & articles, led thematic transnational networks and/or advised individual cities.

Theme / Policy:

Research, Innovation and Knowledge Economy

Summary Thematic expertise:

Theme / Policy:

Entrepreneurship and competitive SMEs

Summary Thematic expertise:

Expertise support to local authorities and other stakeholders in designing & delivering integrated and participatory policies

E.1. Knowledge on participatory methods and tools for co-production and implementation of local polices :

During the URBACT Summer University in Dublin (2013), I worked with a number of groups to discuss and apply participatory techniques such as stakeholder analysis, problem tree analysis, 360 degree analysis, and OPERA. I have applied these tools in many other settings as well.

E.2. Knowledge on integrated approach for the design, delivering, monitoring and evaluation of urban strategies/policies:

In a meeting in Tampere we learned and applied a new monitoring tool to follow and interpret changes in the local/regional economy (“urban intelligence”): a traffic light method, in which indicators were identified and measured twice per year, then interpreted by a mixed group of local stakeholders and translated into policy recommendations.

E.3. Awareness of the main policy and funding schemes for sustainable urban development at EU and national level:

I stay up to date by following relevant social media accounts, visiting Open Days, following calls systematically.

E.4. Ability to understand specific local situations and adapt tools and content to different local realities:

In the EUniverCities project we took the peer-review method and reworked it to fit the needs of each local partner, by analysing carefully first what the local needs and challenges were.

Summary Expertise:

I use a toolbox with instruments that help cities to work with stakeholders to analyse situations and design solutions; also I have experience with several methods to structure an international exchange project and with finding the right meeting formats and forms for the right type for exchange. The choice of tools or formats always depends on the topic and the local situation, and therefore I like to fine-tune the approach in collaboration with the lead partner and project partners.