Actors
REFINA structure and actors
Federal Ministry of Education and Research
In the context of the sustainability research promoted by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), the Ministry as lead authority has initiated the REFINA programme for "Research for the reduction of land consumption and for sustainable land management." The Federal Government was providing Euro 20 million in funding between 2006 and 2012.
REFINA Steering Group
The REFINA Steering Group was the interface between research, practice, politics, and public authorities. It was composed of representatives from:
- the participating Federal Ministries of Education and Research (BMBF, overall control), of Transport, Building and Urban Affairs (BMVBS), of Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU) and of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection (BMELV)
- public authorities subordinated to these ministries, such as the Federal Office for Building and Regional Planning (BBR), the Federal Environmental Agency (UBA), and the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN)
Project Management Organisation
The project management organisation Projektträger Jülich coordinated the work of the REFINA programme and supported projects technically and administratively.
Research Support Team
The German Institute of Urban Affairs (Difu), Berlin, together with the Office for Local and Regional Planning, Aachen (BKR Aachen) was charged with responsibility for the cross-project accompaniment of the REFINA programme. This included knowledge and information transfer within the research consortium and extensive public relations activities. Projects were to be networked, and discussion between fields and actors initiated, mediated and evaluated. The results of individual projects were to be collated, processed, and disseminated to the scientific community, practitioners, political authorities and the public.
REFINA Research Projects
Throughout the country, the programme covered over 110 projects in some 45 research consortia and single projects. REFINA projects involved important political, administrative, economic, and social actors and interest groups. This ensured that all aspects of the subject matter and detailed issues are addressed in close collaboration with practitioners.