Urban Testing: Görlitz Undergoes Evaluation
In an effort to revitalise cities and attract skilled professionals, trial living programs have been introduced in several East German cities, with Görlitz leading the way since 2008.
The trial living season in Görlitz, starting in May 2025, is specifically targeting employees of the German Center for Astrophysics, which is set to create up to 1000 jobs in the long term. The program also extends to other cities, such as Guben, Wittenberge, Eberswalde, and soon Bautzen.
The trial living program in Görlitz offers participants a three-month stay, with the duration gradually extended over the years. People in professional lives who could enrich city life through engagement, for example in ecological matters, are now targeted more strongly. The city's affordable housing, good cultural and leisure offer, short distances, plenty of greenery, and absence of city noise are among the attractions for trial residents.
About every tenth participant in Görlitz's trial living program has moved to the city permanently after the trial stay. This trend is not unique to Görlitz, as cities in East Germany, including Guben and Eisenhüttenstadt in Brandenburg, and areas in the Erzgebirge region, are also offering trial living programs to city dwellers who want to experience life in a rural area. These programs provide furnished guest apartments, social events, and business internships as part of the package.
The success of the concept in Görlitz is attributed to the openness of the Görlitzers to newcomers. This openness, combined with the city's charm, has resulted in a positive reputation, with Zwönitz recently welcoming a three-member family from Berlin as part of this trial living program in August.
Professor Robert Knippschild, from the Leibniz Institute for Ecological Urban Development, is involved in scientifically studying the trial living program in Görlitz. His research aims to understand how to make the city attractive for highly qualified professionals and how to facilitate their integration into the community.
The findings from the scientific accompaniment of the trial living in Görlitz are relevant for other cities undergoing similar transformation processes. The program has evolved over a decade, with the initial stays being four weeks and having a more vacation-like character. However, the focus has shifted towards attracting skilled professionals, people with innovative business ideas, and those willing to engage in voluntary work.
Despite the success of the trial living program, Görlitz, with a population of around 57,000, still relies on external immigration to maintain its population in the long term. One of the challenges the city faces is in car-free mobility, which is an area that requires improvement.
In conclusion, trial living programs in East German cities are proving to be an effective strategy in attracting skilled professionals and revitalising cities. Görlitz, with its unique charm and openness to newcomers, is leading the way in this innovative approach.
