Dear friends! For us, encounters, exchange, dialogue as well as negotiation and collaboration are key principles for shaping the future - always! But today we have to cope with aggression and attacks. Our thoughts are with our partners, colleagues and friends in...
Blog
“Barcamps for twinning!” – New podcast episode online
We published the next episode within our TCL podcast-series. It' s all about barcamps as a dynamic format for the twinning community. Enjoy! https://letscast.fm/podcasts/twin-city-lab-podcast-262b3575/feed...
TCL Academy 2021 – A brief recap
In 2021 we had the chance to come up with our TCL Academy. Time to look back and review it. The idea of the TCL Academy was born only two years ago when we learned that there are a couple of recurring topics around town twinning our participants are particularly...
THE FIRST ISSUE OF OUR PODCAST
In the last few years of working with different partners in different countries, the Twin City Lab team has repeatedly seen that although the interests and topics of twinning are different, there are topics and issues of our target group's interest regardless of...
Post Barcamp blogpost
A week ago I've returned from Tbilisi. Georgian capital city hosted Twin City Barcamp 2021. This post is to give you a short outlook on one of Twin City Lab key events. Want a cool venue? Choose Fabrika! Fabrika - a revitalized sewing factory in the heart of old town...
We announce the Twin City Lab contest!
“My Collaborative City” The Twin City Lab boosts international twinning city partnerships and explores new ways of collaboration. By supporting and connecting urban communities and cities, the Twin City Lab pushes the level of international exchange beyond current...
Teaming up for new ideas
Two weeks after the Twin City Booster workshop we are still impressed by the city of Krasnodar, the great cooperation experience and especially by the bilateral workshop group. Twenty participants from Karlsruhe (Germany) and Krasnodar (Russia) met for two-days “Match...
Ivano-Frankivsk: On the way to a new partnership!
In the coming days, Twin City Lab will accompany Ivano-Frankivsk on the way to a new city partnership. For a long time, the city has been working on expanding its international network. Now it will be supported by Twin City Lab in the form of an ideation and strategy...
Our TwinCafé last session
We are pleased to announce that the second TwinCafé took place this week. Our first issue in August was about the Twin City Lab itself and the current situation of twinning. With our TwinCafé, we offer you an alternative to network and exchange. Every 4-6 weeks, we...
Finding new organizations for Twinning in your city
One of the issues for organizations fostering their city's twinning activities is: “Who in my city could actually be interested in developing projects with our partners? Who's cool enough to be “exported”? I know all the good pals, and they are either already involved...
Launch of the TCL Academy
In short clips, our Twin City Lab's co-founder Björn and Eventmanager Oleksandra present our completely new service - TCL Academy! Here you can find TCL Academy presentations in English, German, Russian and Ukrainian. Choose your preferred language....
Watch us! The Twin City Lab mission explained in DE, EN, RU, UA
We recorded a few short clips to introduce the Twin City Lab and our mission.In English, German, Russian and Ukrainian. Enjoy. https://youtu.be/NleWvHIvFMk In English! https://youtu.be/ow3DzCYUUAk In German! https://youtu.be/zjPBH_9Mh_M In Russian!...
Our Mission
Most of the world's population lives in cities. By 2050, it will be nearly 70%. Cities have become the main points not only for living but also for social and economic development. This raises huge challenges but also offers great opportunities. So what makes cities...
Scouting in Karlsruhe
Last year Karlsruhe and Krasnodar - with a long and experienced twinning relationship since 1902 - applied for our Booster. We were longing to set off since spring 2020. This week our TCL-Booster programme started. And so Ivan headed to Krasnodar, Gregor and me to...
Ready for take-off. Again.
To be honest, three weeks ago I could not believe it: After several changes and postponements due to Covid-19, finally our TCL-projects are ready for take-off. In a few days our so-called TCL Academy will open its online doors . We will provide and support...
Twinning in time of the pandemic: Challenges &Workarounds
In difficult times of pandemic and coronavirus, many initiatives and projects face a dilemma: to wait until better times, or to adapt the activities to the online environment. Twin City Lab faced the same dilemma. In this blogpost we would like to share our...
Engagement [First Steps #4]
Many projects are started by a bunch of like-minded enthusiasts. Group dynamics changes with each passed milestone. But the core, bound by a common goal, stays strong and keeps the project running. It can’t last forever: if the project is great, it will grow bigger....
Communication strategy [First Steps #3]
Besides the Project management points covered earlier, there are other "down to earth" issues. Even if you've prepared a great concept, assembled a team, and realized your idea, nobody will know about it if you've missed the communication part. Here's an overview of...
Basis of the project management [First Steps#2]
What you need to know before you start the twinning city project. Creating your first project within the twin city framework is not that easy. It's pretty challenging, but also rewarding!In this post, we would like to share with you the most important and practical...
Getting Started. Or: Embrace Complexity [First Steps #1]
Beginning new things is always exciting. Once you have a decent idea, there is nothing more beautiful than getting started. But wait. Setting up projects and activities within the framework of twinning cities can be quite a challenge. While it is good and absolutely...
Guide to Twinning City Project: Research
There is not one thought in our head that is 100% ours. To make a great project you need to know what can actually be done. Twin City Lab features dozens of projects for inspiration. You need more? In this article, we will share our methods of research. Short summary...
A growing treasure chest for twinning inspirations
It has been a challenging year so far – for everyone. The Twin City Lab was about to boost some more partnerships and urban community. But even Plan Bs were supposed to be affected by lockdown and restrictions. So some of the quietness derives from a bustling team...