Program

Establish a platform that engages and connects politicians, bureaucrats, scientists, urbanists, architects, the business community, and civil society in order to identify and help implement new strategies and innovation for sustainable urban development.

A better future for both humans and the planet demands meaningful practices of leadership and collaboration, starting with the places we live: the cities. We need conscious, shared purpose and innovative action from committed citizens.

The BMW Foundation Herbert Quandt has launched the RISE Cities program to advance responsible leadership in cities and global knowledge of resilient, intelligent, sustainable, and equitable (RISE) cities. RISE Cities identifies urban challenges and facilitates mutual learning to support the development of local solutions.

Using its experience in community building and its knowledge of cross-sectoral exchange, the program seeks to establish a platform that engages all urban stakeholders - politicians, bureaucrats, scientists, urbanists, architects, the business community, and civil society - to identify and help implement new strategies and projects for sustainable urban development. 

“We need initiatives like RISE Cities to bring leaders together across sectors, as only a collective network of leaders rather than a single person can solve these challenges and enable the cultural change needed globally."

Helle Søholt, CEO of Gehl and member of the BMW Foundation Responsible Leaders Network

RISE Fellowship Program

leadership

Through RISE Cities, we aim to bring the Responsible Leadership mindset to city stakeholders in very concrete terms.  

We strive to create a network of city stakeholders and to inspire more people to identify themselves as Responsible Leaders to catalyze sustainable urban transformation. 

RISE Future Visions 2050

insights

Collective knowledge production on future scenarios, trends and prospects based on the RISE metrics. 

We aim to gather knowledge about future trends and visions – knowledge that reflects and defines our worldview and helps us to move forward.

RISE Cities Fellowship

In June 2022, the BMW Foundation Herbert Quandt launched the RISE Cities Fellowship for innovative organizations to accelerate projects and initiatives that inspire new forms of cross-sector collaboration and responsible leadership in cities. 

RISE Cities Fellowship is a hybrid program with a cohort of 24 leaders from 12 European cities working in tandems to develop ideas and solutions for their cities through immersive sessions, masterclasses, online coaching and mentoring by outstanding urban experts and members of the BMW Foundation Responsible Leaders Network. 

The BMW Foundation RISE Fellowship program is supported by experienced advisors like GEHL and Urban Impact Agency and other network partners in terms of nominations, thematic inputs, and coaching.

The nomination phase is now closed.

Events

People

Partners