Joint action for sustainable development
From 27 to 28 August 2025, at spinPLACE, Bankowa 5, Katowice, inspiring workshops titled "Shaping the Future of The Upper Silesian-Zagłębie Metropolis" were held. They aimed to develop a common vision for the future of the Upper Silesian-Zagłębie Metropolis (GZM). The event brought together representatives of start-ups, the public sector, non-governmental organisations, university staff, as well as students and secondary school pupils who want to actively participate in shaping the development of this important urban centre.
The organisers of the workshops were the GZM, Fujitsu, and the Silesian University of Technology. These entities jointly aim to create a platform for exchanging knowledge and experiences, enabling the development of innovative solutions for the challenges facing the region. The key goal is to use collective creativity and expertise to model the metropolis’s future, based on analysis of the local context, demography, social needs, and global trends.
During the two-day workshop, three critical areas of GZM development were analysed:
- Counteracting population decline – exploring ways to retain and attract residents,
- Pursuing sustainable development – promoting ecological and socially responsible solutions,
- Collaboration-based management – building effective partnerships among various regional entities.
During the first day session, the participants jointly worked to define the current challenges and analyse the region's socio-economic status. The next stage was to develop a vision of the future and propose directions for development. By the end of the day, a preliminary action map was created, outlining potential steps to implement the concepts developed.
On 28 August, the second day, the focus was on refining ideas, developing concrete strategies, and drafting action plans. Participants had the opportunity to actively engage in each phase of the process, using the design thinking methodology, which focuses on empathy, collaboration, and an iterative approach to solving complex problems.
The use of design thinking allowed participants to take a creative and engaging role in the workshops. This approach enables a deep understanding of the community needs, the creative generation of solutions, and their joint testing and improvement.
The " Shaping the Future of The Upper Silesian-Zagłębie Metropolis " workshops were a unique opportunity to actively participate in and contribute to the development of a region, which plays a key role in the Polish economy, science and culture. Together, we can develop concrete solutions that will make GZM a more attractive, sustainable and open to the challenges of the future, ensuring a better tomorrow for our region.
