MOSCOW URBAN FORUM — is the largest international congress on the development challenges of global megacities. The Forum has been held annually since 2011.
Manufacturing facilities located in megacities have a controversial meaning. On the one hand, they provide jobs and produce a product, but on the other hand, their presence often affects the level of ecology in the city and the level of amenities in the relevant area. Often, industrial production facilities are moved out of the city, opening cultural sites or community centers in place of industrial zones, which make the area more comfortable for residents and also contribute to the urban economy. At the same time, in many megacities there is a trend toward innovation and technology hubs, which cannot exist without production facilities. What role does industry play in a city's economy and agglomeration? Can a megacity remain an industrial center and be comfortable for residents?
Can industry be the basis of a modern agglomeration? What are the pros and cons of such a model?
What problems can be caused by the transfer of the industrial center to neighboring cities or regions? How does this affect the development of a megacity?
How is technology and industry connected? Can a city be a technological hub, but not an industrial center?