Bucharest has been named one of the top 10 European Tech Cities of the Future for 2020/21, according to fDi and TNW. The Romanian capital ranks as #7 making the Central & Eastern European city with the highest score. Five other cities – Warsaw (#15), Sofia (#20), Prague (#22), Tallinn (#23) and Krakow (#24) have made it into the top 25.

The pandemic has changed the way we live and work. We still do not know whether these changes will be temporary or permanent in nature and whether they will stay with us, even when the threat of the disease is behind us. The uncertainty of the new and unprecedented situation has impacted all real estate sectors to a lesser or greater extent. Sharing of space, which is one of the key principles underpinning co-living, appears to be the absolute opposite of pandemic isolation. Contrary to appearances, this type of accommodation where in addition to sharing space residents also share a set of interests and values may be an easier and more enjoyable way of staying in quarantine, especially for lonely people and those living far from their families. Małgorzata Dziubińska, Associate Director at Cushman & Wakefield, says about co-living in the new reality.

Belgian developer Atenor announced the launch of BakerStreet, its fourth project in Budapest. Atenor acquired a 5,711 sqm plot of land located at 18 Hengermalom Road in district XI of Budapest in July 2019 in order to develop a new Class A+ green office project of nearly 18,000 sqm.

With the ease of travel restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, companies begin to resume their activity in the headquarters located in office buildings, but with only 40% of employees in a first phase, according to a survey of Cushman & Wakefield Echinox.

Zeitraum, a specialist in student rental housing, has entered into a three-year contract with the Anglo-American University in Prague (AAU), guaranteeing 120 beds for its students in the new academic year 2020/2021. The AAU is one of 20 universities with which Zeitraum cooperates and provides accommodation for the AAU’s students on its four newly reconstructed campuses in Prague. More than 60% of university students remained accommodated despite the difficult situation regarding the COVID-19 pandemic while continuing their studies online.

The European Investment Bank (EIB) has signed a €125 million loan with Umicore, a Belgian-based global materials technology and recycling group, to finance part of the greenfield production facility for cathode materials in Nysa, Southwestern Poland. The cathode materials will be supplied to battery manufacturers of high-tech lithium-ion batteries that are primarily used in electric vehicles. 

Hypermarket chain Albert has sold Obchodní centrum Čestlice to HSTN Holding, a private investment platform founded in 2017 by the founders of Sportisimo. The sale was facilitated by Cushman & Wakefield.

Shopping centres in Romania have reopened on June 15. In total, investments in all equipment, supplies and staff needed to ensure compliance with the safety and social distancing measures that are still needed to prevent the spread of coronavirus. exceed €500,000 for large shopping centres, according to Colliers International consultants. Shoppers will gradually resume their pre-pandemic habits and traffic in the malls could return to normal during the Christmas season.

Radisson Hotel Group announced the opening of the Radisson Blu Hotel in Sopot and the Radisson Hotel Szklarska Poręba, bringing its portfolio to 14 properties in operation in Poland.

Savills has been appointed as sole office and retail space letting agent for Giant Office, a newly-completed office development in Poznań.