The Urban Age Programme, jointly organised with the Alfred Herrhausen Gesellschaft, is an international investigation of the spatial and social dynamics of cities centred on regular conferences, research initiative and publications. Since 2005, over 16 conferences have been held in rapidly urbanising regions in Africa and Asia, as well as in mature urban regions in the Americas and Europe. As an event, the Urban Age catalyses the exchange of information, experiences and data across a global network of cities. Since 2005 Urban Age has studied the social and spatial dynamics of metropolitan areas such as Delhi, Rio de Janeiro, London, Hong Kong, Istanbul, São Paulo, Mumbai, Johannesburg, and New York City.
At recent conferences, national leaders such as the UK’s Prime Minister David Cameron, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and President of Mexico Vicente Fox have joined the mayors of London, Berlin, Mexico City, New Delhi, Chicago, Washington DC, Bogotá and São Paulo, and internationally renowned academics, architects and activists, to debate a wide range of urban issues.
Deutsche Bank Urban Age Award
Established in 2007, the Deutsche Bank Urban Age Award recognises projects that improve the physical conditions of communities and the lives of their residents, establishing a network of urban initiatives at the grassroots level. The first award was given out in Mumbai (2007), followed by São Paulo (2008), Istanbul (2009), Mexico City (2010), Cape Town (2012), Rio de Janeiro (2013) and Delhi (2014).