معرفی
Prof. Dr. Stefan Gärtner serves as Managing Director and Director of the Research Focus Spatial Capital at the Institute for Work and Technology (Institut Arbeit und Technik), which is affiliated with Westfälische Hochschule. His academic career spans spatial planning, urban economics, and regional development, with a strong focus on the intersection between economic systems and spatial organization.
Dr. Gärtner holds a Habilitation (venia legendi for regional development), doctorate, and completed his studies in spatial planning at the Universities of Dortmund and Liverpool. He is a graduate engineer and urban planner (AKNW). Prior to his academic career, until 2001, he worked in sustainable management and trained as a banker. This unique background informs his interdisciplinary research approach that bridges economics, spatial planning, and sustainable development.
His research interests center on urban and regional economies, local economy and urban production, sharing economy and alternative/sustainable economic activity, regional development and structural policy, economic development, space and banking systems, as well as the meaning and perception of spatial identities. Dr. Gärtner's work often examines how economic activities are spatially organized and how this affects regional development trajectories.
His recent publications demonstrate a strong emphasis on the 15-minute city concept, urban production, ecological transformation, and regional development challenges. These works span disciplines including urban planning, economic geography, and sustainable economics, with specific attention to spatial capital, productive cities, and the role of decentralized banking systems in regional economies. His research methodology often combines spatial analysis with economic theory to provide practical insights for policymakers.
- Award of the Foundation of German Cities, Municipalities and Districts for the Promotion of Municipal Sciences awarded by the German Institute of Urban Affairs (Difu), Berlin
- European Savings Banks Academic Award (1st place) awarded by the European Savings Banks Group, Brussels
Dr. Gärtner serves on several important boards including the board of the Society for Structural Policy (GfS), the Advisory Board for Regional Development of the Regional Association Ruhr (RVR), and the Information Circle for Spatial Planning (IfR). He is Head of the steering group of the NRW Forum of the Academy for Spatial Research and Regional Planning (ARL) and co-editor of the journals Arbeit and Raumplanung. He currently leads or participates in several research projects including FAB.Region Bergisches Städtedreieck (2024-2026), Strengthening social innovation capacity (2022-2025), and Potential analysis for the Gelsenkirchen Education and Innovation Campus (2025).
