Interview. Gratian Mihailescu, on why he founded UrbanizeHub

Renewable energy, technology and smart cities are already shaping other European cities, while in Romania, with a few notable exceptions, the discussion is still at a basic level, according to Gratian Mihailescu, founder of UrbanizeHub. The urban development platform is open to designers, environmental activists, renewable energy and waste management specialists, technology, innovation and transportation experts from everywhere – anyone who can help to bring about more people-friendly cities.

Otilia Haraga

First of all, please explain to BR readers how UrbanizeHub works.

UrbanizeHub is a global startup whose long-term objective is to create a global community of people who are passionate about sustainable urban development. The platform will function as an aggregator of news, solutions, ideas, opinions, projects and policies concerning urban development. We have an integrated approach that is distinct from other platforms of this kind, including topics related to the environment, transportation, urban regeneration, inclusion, technology and innovation. The fact that we have contributors from all continents who bring their own expertise from various sectors and new perspectives to the discussion also adds great value to our platform.
Another innovative element of the platform is the fact that it is open to everyone who wants to become a contributor. They can log in using their Facebook accounts and write an article, and if their article fits the website’s topics and categories, the administrators will publish it. People can get involved in shaping their cities, and this is reflected by the UrbanizeHub slogan: ‘Let’s shape the future of cities together’.

What type of projects would best suit Romania?

I think urban regeneration projects would currently be the most impactful for Romania. Many cities have suffered during the transition years and they need such regeneration of their public spaces. I also think that projects that stimulate participation in communities are very important. Civil society needs to become more active and involved in the problems of different communities. These two examples are for small and mid-sized cities. For Romania’s large cities, smarter solutions are needed for transportation and innovation.

How open do you think the Romanian authorities are to sustainable development projects?

Unfortunately, we are still having discussions about water distribution and basic road construction. We are far from what is happening in Western states, but we do have some examples of good practice. The authorities need to understand that for sustainable development they need vision, openness and partnerships. Romania has more and more experts in this field and their help is needed. We just need more willingness to adopt a proactive approach from administrators. In places where people have really wanted to make a difference, extraordinary things have been achieved.

You have a global/regional vision. What are the trends in other countries?

The trends in developed cities are related to technology, renewable energy and smart cities. The most important aspects are creating a better quality of life and cities that are friendly to their inhabitants. This means more cultural events, modern and efficient public transport, better leisure facilities, parks and bike-sharing programs.

Can you give me some examples of projects implemented in Romania so far?

Take the examples of projects in cities like Cluj, Alba Iulia and Oradea. These are cities which have had a great evolution, they have managed to access significant amounts of funding, and have had open-minded administrators who were willing to create partnerships with universities and the private sector. This type of thing can happen in all of Romania, if there is transparency, openness and willingness, as well as a proactive attitude from the authorities. Unfortunately, Romania is not there yet, except for some isolated cases. We still have plenty of work to do in that regard. This is why our website is written in English – in the short term we are not necessarily interested in Romania, but we want to gain visibility in places like Brussels, London and New York, where we want to create partnerships for communication and expertise.
UrbanizeHub has been present, during the last two months, in Brussels, Prague, Lugano, Trento and Bucharest, San Francisco, Las Vegas and Silicon Valley. It is possible that once we become better known at an international level, we will then gain more credibility in Romania. That is how it usually works.

What are UrbanizeHub’s current or future projects in Romania?

In Romania, we would like to organize conferences related to the future of cities. The longer-term intention is to come up with alternatives and proposals to open-minded mayors and administrators who want to transform their cities through smart projects. We will provide solutions through expertise and specific proposals. This is something we want to do at a European level, not just in Romania. Our first objective, however, is to become known as a startup and get more people to join us, to gather more expertise and attract more readers; in other words, to create a strong brand – this takes a lot of time and a lot of work.

What happens when someone comes up with a project, how do they get help implementing it?

We want to create a database of experts in various sectors: urban designers, environmental activists, renewable energy and waste management specialists, technology, innovation and transportation experts. Ideally they will bring their own ideas, which we would publish and promote on the website. City administrators should then want to collaborate with us, as we provide an integrated approach and propose smart and sustainable solutions.