Building the STRING megaregion as a green hub in the wake of COVID-19
STRING is a political cross-border organisation spanning five cities (the Free and
Hanseatic City of Hamburg, Copenhagen, Malmö, Gothenburg and Oslo) and eight regions
(Schleswig-Holstein, Region of Southern Denmark, Region Zealand, Capital Region of
Denmark, Region Skåne, Region Halland, Västra Götalandsregionen and Viken County)
across Germany, Denmark, Sweden and Norway. Home to around 14 million inhabitants,
STRING has good potential to become a leading European megaregion and an internationally
acknowledged Green Hub if governments “think big” and work together beyond their own
boundaries. Building on its green expertise and high levels of innovation and quality
of life, STRING could take advantage of current opportunities such as the construction
of the Fehmarn Belt Fixed Link to reap the benefits of agglomeration economies and
establish itself as a sustainable megaregion. However, time is of the essence. Seizing
the political momentum of the coming decade, including the momentum to support a green
recovery from COVID-19, will be critical to advance STRING’s green vision and shape
a future-proof economic model.
Published on June 11, 2021
In series:OECD Regional Development Papersview more titles