How does a city tell the story of its transformation?
EMBASSY has been supporting the PR work of the national park city and industry site Schwedt/Oder since 2023 in order to showcase and illustrate its transformation.
EMBASSY’s »Platz für morgen« (»(A) space for tomorrow«) campaign in 2020 gained special significance on January 1, 2023, when the city’s oil refinery was affected by the EU’s embargo due to the Russian war in Ukraine. The city of Schwedt/Oder had to begin its transformation much faster than planned. Major funding packages are enabling the creation of large projects and infrastructure that the city’s transition urgently needs.
The collaboration with EMBASSY began during a time of great uncertainty in the city and had few tangible things to report: most of the projects were in the early stages of planning and design. The biggest challenge was to make the progress visible.
EMBASSY identified and organized communication opportunities to make the change and progress visible. For guided city walks, press events, Future Conferences, trade fairs, etc., the »Space for tomorrow« is showcased in word and image and the transformation is presented and explained.
The sum of the many small accomplishments and individual steps becomes a success story. Despite the challenges, the city can position its transformation more positively. In an online survey, the majority of respondents (41%) rated Schwedt’s future prospects as good or very good. The majority of respondents were optimistic and hopeful about the future. 64% agreed with the statement: “Schwedt can change and transform”.
These positive results were incorporated into the »Future Concept Schwedt/Oder 2030+«, the city’s roadmap for structural change to become a sustainable, innovative industrial location. The concept can be downloaded from the official website of the city of Schwedt/Oder at www.schwedt.eu or at platzfuermorgen.de.
The sum of the many small achievements and individual steps adds up to a success story that has been showcased in various formats.
The sum of the many small achievements and individual steps adds up to a success story that has been showcased in various formats.
Future Conference
The contents of the »Future Concept Schwedt/Oder 2030+« were presented and discussed at the 1st Future Conference in Schwedt.
Start-up Lab
The »Start-up Labor Schwedt« aims to connect established industrial companies with technology-focused start-ups in order to replace CO2-intensive and climate-damaging production processes and transform them into climate-friendly and circular processes.
Trade fair weekend
In September 2024, the city of Schwedt/Oder hosted several exhibitions at its »Space for the Future« for the first time: The »sam« student and apprenticeship fair, the INKONTAKT business fair and the Maker Faire for creatives and inventors.
In all formats, the citizens should be able to contribute, be informed and participate.
Citizen participation
366 citizens of all age groups took part in the online survey on Schwedt’s Future Prospects, which was advertised on billboards throughout the city.
Future Workshops
In two Future Workshops, representatives from economy and administration, associations, initiatives and clubs discussed the future of Schwedt.
New Year’s reception 2025
A year-end review summarized the most important achievements and events in 2024. In the following New Year’s address, the mayor looked to the future and encouraged the audience to become part of »Team Schwedt«.
At the city entrance, a banner displayed the aim of the project: to contrast the general uncertainty with reasons for optimism. EMBASSY brought the positive media coverage about Schwedt into Schwedt via screens and roll-ups. We share additional “Good news about the transformation in Schwedt” on platzfuermorgen.de.
