20,000 delegates from over 80 countries gathered at the global real estate conference MIPIM this week. This landmark event heralded the return to face-to-face networking and in-person events for the international property industry as restrictions ease following the global pandemic.
MIPIM featured over 360 speakers, with 2,400 exhibiting companies at more than 350 exhibition stands and pavilions across 18,500m² of exhibition area. Delegates from France made up the largest contingent, followed by the UK and then Germany.
Investors comprised a quarter of delegates to MIPIM, including those from top funds & real estate investors from across the globe. The major brokerage firms CBRE, Colliers, Cushman & Wakefield, JLL, Knight Frank and Savills all had significant attendance.
As the real estate industry becomes ever more integral to successful cities and societies, 150 city leaders from around the world participated in MIPIM.
Francois Hollande, former French President, opened the conference with a keynote address on Tuesday 15th March. This year the conference theme ‘Driving Urban Change’ encouraged the industry to explore and discuss the challenges of climate change, affordability, liveability and technological innovation in cities. Hollande said:
“We must build more housing, densify the city – and for this we must remove apprehensions about building permits. The next crises to come will relate to climate change. It is the public leaders who have the responsibility to avoid or at least reduce the climate crisis.”
From the UK, Stuart Andrew, the new Minister of State for Housing arrived at MIPIM on Wednesday 16th March for his first major industry event as minister, delivering a keynote address at the UK Government Pavilion:
“We have published our Levelling Up white paper, our flagship plan to spread opportunity and investment at corner of the United Kingdom. Twenty areas will benefit from £1.5 billion of investment from our Brownfield Fund, to deliver ambitious, job-creating regeneration projects. We will announce a further 18 places as soon as possible this year… and we’re also providing £300m of locally led grant funding for mayoral combined authorities and councils to unlock brownfield sites for more houses.”
Edouard Philippe, former French Prime Minister, shared his vision of what the city of tomorrow should be, and what the role of political leaders should be in this transformation.
“Imagining what the city of tomorrow could be is like making a bet on what will happen in the future. We must come back to reality, the future is uncertain and the city must always adapt.”
With driving urban change as its main theme, sustainability and ESG were at the heart of many debates across the three-day programme. More than ever, the consensus across the event was how the industry can tackle the risks presented by climate change, achieve net zero and net positive developments and ensure that positive social outcomes are embedded into real estate decision making. Guy Grainger, global head of sustainability and ESG at JLL, said:
“You have to relate everything back to the people in the buildings because that’s what the tenants are interested in. How do you ensure that this is an attractive place for people to work? And when they’re here, that they’re productive, healthy and really happy.”
The Gend’Her networking event, held in partnership with Business Immo, KPMG and CREW Network, took place on Thursday 17th March and began with inspiring introductions from award-winning author Michelle King and Wendy Mann, CEO of CREW Network. This interactive session explored how gender balance in the real estate industry can boost creativity and economic growth.
Real estate is at a crucial point in its evolution as digital transformation is fully embraced by the sector. At Propel by MIPIM, the 7th edition of the global Start Up Competition, in partnership with MetaProp, celebrated the latest tech innovations tackling areas such as sustainability, user experience, investment and data.
The MIPIM Awards winners, coming from across Europe, Turkey and China, were announced during the ceremony on Thursday 17th March. Notable winners include the House of Music in Budapest, Hungary, which received the Special Jury Award and the Arboretum in Nanterre, France, which won the Best Futura Project. The jury chaired this year by François Trausch, Global CEO & CIO of Allianz Real Estate, included architects, developers and investors from Denmark, Gabon, the UK, Singapore, Belgium and other countries.
MIPIM also announced that Nicolas Kozubek will become the new director of MIPIM following Ronan Vaspart’s five-year tenure. For the past four years, Nicolas Kozubeck headed up proptech and innovation event Propel by MIPIM, and he takes the helm at MIPIM at a critical time for real estate, as it experiences dramatic change accelerated by technology. Ronan Vaspart said:
“This year MIPIM has shown that the need for physical events and face to face meetings is as strong as before. After the pandemic, as the real estate industry recovers and looks forward to the challenges of the future, we are encouraged by the strong attendance we have seen from the investment community as well as a major commitment, across the sector, to ESG principles and building back better. I’m delighted to be handing over to Nicolas and look forward to seeing how his amazing work at Propel will support the transformation and continued innovation of MIPIM.”
“MIPIM is a platform where all countries and cultures can come together to not only do business but to share knowledge and ideas to create the cities and places of tomorrow.”
The next Propel by MIPIM will take place in New York on 9-10 November 2022.
MIPIM will return to Cannes on 14 – 17 March 2023.
