A warm welcome!
Thank you for your interest in the 16th Federal Congress on National Urban Development Policy.
Sharing innovative ideas and positive experiences is vital for integrated urban development policy. The annual Federal Congresses are the central forum for urban development policy in Germany. With a variety of formats, they provide a platform for all stakeholders involved in the processes and issues of urban development policy. Since the very beginning of the National Urban Development Policy, they have become one of its most important cornerstones.
This is where a wide community of experts discusses the contents, objectives and current issues around urban development policy. In addition, new ideas and approaches are presented, using exemplary projects and processes from Germany and abroad.
This year’s Federal Congress took place in Jena, Thuringia, in the just completely renovated Volkshaus. It was linked to the presentation year of the IBA Thuringia 2023 and explored the diverse connections between city and countryside and the major transformation tasks of climate change, digitalisation, housing, social participation, energy and mobility transformation.
You can find the recordings of the main programme in the Media-Library.
Programme
(Last updated: 31/08/2023 / Subject to change)
12 September 2023
From 10:00 a.m.
Accreditation for Federal Congress available
11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Side events
Various events by the partners of the Federal Ministry for Housing, Urban Development and Building and the National Urban Development Policy
Due to space restrictions in the Volkshaus Jena, the number of participants at the side events will be limited.
11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Side events (by invitation)
From 5:00 p.m.
Congress Programme
Overall moderation: Anja Heyde
5:00 p.m.
Welcome/introduction: “Urban-Rural Future Lab – new pathways to better cooperation”
Klara Geywitz, Federal Minister for Housing, Urban Development and Building
5:15 p.m.
Welcome to the Free State of Thuringia
Bodo Ramelow, Prime Minister of the Free State of Thuringia
5:30 p.m.
Welcome to the City of Jena
Dr. Thomas Nitzsche, Mayor of the City of Jena
5:40 p.m.
International welcoming speech
Oleksandra Azarkhina, Deputy Minister for Infrastructure, Ukraine (ENG)
5:50 p.m.
Keynote
Aysel Osmanoglu, member of the Executive Board and Spokeswoman of the Executive Board of GLS Bank
6:20 p.m.
Dialogue on the keynote
Moderator: Anja Heyde in conversation with Klara Geywitz, Federal Minister for Housing, Urban Development and Building, and Aysel Osmanoglu
6:40 p.m.
Discussion on urban development policy
Leading the discussion: Anja Heyde, moderator
- Bernhard Daldrup, Member of the Federal Parliament, SPD
- Anja Liebert, Member of the Federal Parliament, Alliance 90/The Greens
- Rainer Semet, Member of the Federal Parliament, FDP
- Lars Rohwer, Member of the Federal Parliament, CDU/CSU
- Caren Lay, Member of the Federal Parliament, The Left
- Stephan Brandner, Member of the Federal Parliament, Alternative for Germany
7:25 p.m.
“Urban Development Day” photo competition: Award ceremony
Moderation: Anja Heyde, moderator
- Klara Geywitz, Federal Minister for Housing, Urban Development and Building
7:40 p.m.
Evening reception by the Federal Ministry for Housing, Urban Development and Building in the foyer of the Volkshaus Jena
13 September 2023
From 8:30 a.m.
Admission and registration
10:00 a.m.
Opening and welcome, with dialogue
Moderator Anja Heyde in conversation with Elisabeth Kaiser, Member of the Federal Parliament and Parliamentary State Secretary to the Federal Minister for Housing, Urban Development and Building
10:10 a.m.
Keynote
Dr.-Ing. Martina Doehler-Behzadi, Managing Director of IBA Thüringen GmbH
10:40 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Breakout sessions (in parallel): Different working formats with short stimuli, practical examples and discussion (including excursion)
Moderator Anja Heyde starts with an overview of the breakout sessions and provides organisational instructions (finishing at 11:00 a.m. latest). Only some of the breakout sessions will take place in the Volkshaus. Some breakout sessions will be excursions to IBA projects. Buses will be available for the excursions if the locations are not easily reached by public transport or on foot. Participation in these breakout sessions is limited.
3:30 p.m.
Coffee break and discussion in the Volkshaus
4:15 p.m.
Discussion: Partners of the National Urban Development Policy
Moderator Anja Heyde in conversation with:
- Elisabeth Kaiser, Member of the Federal Parliament and Parliamentary State Secretary to the Federal Minister for Housing, Urban Development and Building
- Prof. Dr. Barbara Schönig, State Secretary to the Thuringian Ministry of Infrastructure and Agriculture
- Bernd Düsterdiek, Alderman for Urban Development, Environment and Climate Protection, German Association of Towns and Municipalities
- Hilmar von Lojewski, Alderman for Urban Development, Building, Housing and Traffic, Association of German Cities
- Christian Gerlitz, Mayor and Head of Department for Urban Development and Environment of the City of Jena
5:15 p.m.
Brief wrap-up and end of programme
Moderator Anja Heyde in conversation with Elisabeth Kaiser, Member of the Federal Parliament and Parliamentary State Secretary to the Federal Minister for Housing, Urban Development and Building
5:30 p.m.
Close of Congress and City of Jena get-together in the foyer of the Volkshaus Jena
Event location
Volkshaus Jena
Carl-Zeiss-Platz 15
07743 Jena
The ideal location for intellectual stimulation
Immerse yourself in culture in the historic Volkshaus Jena. Initiated in 1903 by Ernst Abbe, the building was primarily intended to offer people “opportunities for intellectual stimulation”.
And the Volkshaus is still impressive today, with its various rooms ornately decorated with art nouveau elements.

The Ernst-Abbe-Saal in the Volkshaus Jena
At the heart of the Volkshaus is the large plenary hall named after Ernst Abbe, the physicist and social reformer. With its faithfully restored art nouveau elements and excellent acoustics, this awe-inspiring setting is perfect for the 16th Federal Congress.
The Volkshaus is complemented by the tower building which, after extensive renovation and conversion, has been turned into a modern conference centre that was opened in 2022.
The Volkshaus Jena is located right in the heart of the city and is just a few minutes’ easy walk from both the main stations, Jena Paradies and Jena West. The city centre is on the doorstep, with a large hotel directly opposite and the university campus nearby.
If you look around Jena, you’ll find a city with a youthful, easy-living vibe – a harmonious blend of old and new, a bustling city centre with a studenty atmosphere and wide green spaces, culture, and a fascinating history.
