The Entrepreneurial Forums of Live Towns successfully took place in Miskolc and Sopron.
In mid-July, the Entrepreneurial Forums of Living City Centers were held in Miskolc and Sopron, marking the next professional milestone of the program. After the focus group discussions, surveys, and location analyses in May, this time the focus was on best practices, knowledge sharing, and collective thinking.
The goal of the forums was for local entrepreneurs to not only see the problems but also to get acquainted with domestic and international examples that demonstrate: real change can be achieved through conscious collaboration, community building, and a creative urban development approach.
The events were organized within the framework of the Living City Centers program, coordinated by the Budapest Chamber of Commerce and Industry, with the professional leadership of the Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén County Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Sopron Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the Shopping Street Management.
Building on entrepreneurs' feedback
At the beginning of both forums, we presented the key lessons from the spring research.
Based on focus group meetings and surveys, the challenges that currently most define the operations of city center businesses became clear:
- decreasing purchasing power,
- declining city center traffic,
- increasing number of vacant commercial spaces,
- the need for joint marketing and communication,
- and the necessity to strengthen entrepreneurial collaborations.
The next phase of the program aims not at uncovering problems but at jointly searching for possible solutions.
Miskolc: community building and city branding hand in hand
The guest at the Miskolc forum was Norbert Halász, the operational director of Barcika Art Nonprofit Ltd., who presented through the Kolorcity program how a conscious city brand and a strong community identity can become a driving force for local economic development.
One of the key messages of his presentation was that successful urban development does not primarily start with investments, but with shared stories, consistent communication, and community experiences to which local residents and businesses can relate. Norbi has just recently published a book titled “The City Works”, which presents a new, adaptable urban marketing perspective based on the Kolorcity model. The book premiere awaits interested parties on July 29 (Wednesday) at 6 PM in the conference room of the Kazincbarcika Water Complex.
The example of Kolorcity clearly illustrated that cultural programs, a cohesive urban image, and the active involvement of businesses can create new identity and appeal for a settlement in the long run.
“A strong city brand is authentic when the local community feels it as its own.”
– Norbert Halász, Barcika Art Nonprofit Ltd.
Although the Miskolc forum took place with a smaller attendance, a lively professional dialogue developed among the participants, resulting in valuable experience exchange. Several attendees came from Kazincbarcika, for which we extend special thanks.
Sopron: new tourism, new perspective
At the forum in Sopron, Kovács Balázs, the leader of GD Consulting, presented the current trends in international tourism and urban development.
The central idea of his presentation was that the competitiveness of cities is no longer solely determined by the number of attractions but also by the quality of experiences available, the quality of life, and the active involvement of local communities.
The international best practices presented – including the example of Linz – highlighted that successful cities offer not just tourism products but create stories, encounters, and experiences that resonate with both locals and visitors. Sustainability, network thinking, creating experience spaces, and collaboration are conceptual elements that can provide inspiring directions for Sopron as well. For those who wish to visit Linz now, purchasing a ticket from MÁV grants a 25% discount on the Linz card, which offers free access to public transportation as well as many other discounts. Additionally, for those wanting to stay updated on tourism trends, we recommend Balázs’ Dunakavicsok podcast, where they discuss interesting and current tourism issues.
“The competitiveness of cities is now determined not by the number of attractions, but by the quality of experiences.”
– Kovács Balázs, GD Consulting
Despite the summer holidays, the forum in Sopron took place with significant interest, and it was particularly pleasing to see that several smaller professional discussions arose spontaneously following the presentations. This well demonstrated the local entrepreneurs' openness to collaboration and joint thinking.
The next step: collective action
Both forums introduced the III. BUM Workshop Festival, which will take place from November 6–8, 2026, in Budapest, Miskolc, and Sopron. Register HERE!
The festival offers an opportunity for local businesses to engage with the audience by leveraging their own knowledge and creativity, reach new visitors, and become active participants in the community life of the city.
The Living City Centers program has now reached another important milestone. Following the research phase, the focus is increasingly shifting towards knowledge sharing, adapting best practices, and strengthening local entrepreneurial communities.
Because a living city center consists not just of buildings and shops – but of the people who are capable of thinking together, collaborating, and shaping the future of their city together.
The next event will be held online in August, where we will report on the results of the focus group discussions and the SlowXmas Advent campaign!