ACE Conference: Sharing common values: Internationalisation of the architectural profession and the New European Bauhaus

With the globalisation of the economy and technological progress, architectural firms now have greater opportunities to collaborate and work on projects across borders, within the European Union and globally.

According to the last edition of the ACE Sector Study , in 2022 five per cent of European architects worked in another EU Member State and two per cent outside the EU. The study also reveals that over the past year, 16 per cent of respondents had seriously considered working in another EU Member State and 6% outside Europe, without however taking action. Moreover, an increasing number of architects are trained in countries other than their own, showing a genuine interest and growing capacity of the profession to move across borders. Therefore, there is every reason to believe that the potential for further internationalisation of the profession is strong, provided that professionals can find adequate support.

The conference aimed to discuss the challenges inherent to cross-border work and export of services and present solutions to overcome barriers encountered by professionals, including tools and schemes offered by the European Union; guidance developed by the Architects’ Council of Europe; and support provided by professional bodies at national level. Architects who have successfully developed their business internationally will also share their experience.

The ACE strongly supports the New European Bauhaus movement initiated by the EU Commission, as it helps to make the quality of our living environment a matter of public interest and elevates architecture to an unprecedented political level. Beyond business and entrepreneurial perspectives, the conference also provided an opportunity to discuss the relevance of the NEB values, themes and principles for other parts of the world and emphasise the common values that unite the profession across the world.

The ACE conference has received the support of the Creative Europe programme of the European Union and is a Satellite event of the New European Bauhaus Festival.

Sharing common values: Internationalisation of the profession and the New European Bauhaus
Date: Thursday 18 April 2024
Location: CIVA, Auditorium, Rue de l'Ermitage 55, 1050 Bruxelles.
Download the programme here .
Read more about the speakers here.

Download the presentations below:

Opening - video message Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament

Illustrated discussion: Architecture as a bridge between cultures
Elizabeth DE PORTZAMPARC, Founder of 2P Architectes & Associés, Paris  Discover her presentation.
France Tobias KEYL, Associate partner at Architects von Gerkan, Marg and Partners (gmp), Berlin, Germany
Discover his presentation.

Session 1
SESSION 1 – Sharing common international values for achieving quality in the built environment
Ruth SCHAGEMANN, Architects' Council of Europe (ACE), President
Donatien KASSEYET KALUME, African Union of Architects (AUA), President
Gerardo MONTARULI, Pan American Federation of Architects' Associations (FPAA),
President
Ar. Saifuddin AHMAD, Architects Regional Council Asia (ARCASIA), President
Discover the visual panorama

SESSION 2 – Outputs of ACE internationalisation programme
Dr. Philip STEDEN, Head of Unit “Economic Policy”, German Federal Chamber of
Architects (BAK)
Gergely SANDOR, Chamber of Hungarian Architects (MEK)
Jacques BORG BARTHET, Maltese Chamber of Architects and Civil Engineers (KTP)
Download the presentations here.

Afternoon Keynote Speeches
Joy MBOYA, Executive Director, GoDown Arts Centre, Kenya. Discover her presentation.
Robert WINKEL, Founder of Mei Architects & Planners, The Netherlands. Discover his presentation.

SESSION 3– Exploring the EU instruments contribution to the internationalisation
of European Businesses
Presentations on Market Access by the EU Commission Directorate-General for
Trade
- Thibaud BODSON, Policy Officer: My Trade Assistant for Services and Investment
- Jakob CORNIDES, Policy Officer: My Trade Assistant for Procurement tool
- Claire WHITTAKER , Trade Negotiator: Recent FTAs and provisions on recognition
of qualifications
Presentations on Entrepreneurship by EU Commission Directorate-General for
Internal Market Industry Entrepreneurship and SMEs
- Dana Adriana PUIA MOREL, Policy Officer, DG GROW: European Entrepreneurship
Competence Framework
- Fatima VELEZ, Policy Officer, DG GROW: Enterprise Europe Network
- Iker AYERBE, Project Adviser, EISMA
Download the presentations here.

Did you miss the ACE conference?
Watch the conference on YouTube.