It is inevitable that the amount of capital invested in PropTech will increase in 2019 compared to the previous year. As property markets around the world are becoming more educated there is also more international cooperation on the horizon. James Dearsley and Eddie Holmes, the co-founders of global proptech platform Unissu.com talked to Property Forum about the global status of proptech in 2019 and the aims of their new venture.

Real estate investors tend to keep doing things in exactly the way as they did in the year before. For a long time this worked out well, but to stay in the race, one must make use of the data available. Bouke-Pieter van Dijk, Director of Retail Atlas Schweiz and one of the speakers of the upcoming RICS European Retail Conference talked to Property Forum about his company.

Hosted by RICS in Austria, the 6th Annual RICS CEE Event, held at the British Ambassador’s Residence in Vienna, aimed to answer a number of questions related to the future of the profession and presented how RICS, a solution leader in the real estate sector, helps professionals become well-equipped to meet challenges of the 21st century.

Cushman & Wakefield announced its partnership with Plug and Play, a global innovation and startup accelerator platform. Cushman & Wakefield joins as a founding anchor partner for the Plug and Play Real Estate & Construction vertical.

Technology is not going to completely reshape the property business overnight, mentality and infrastructure developments will define the speed of adaptation in different parts of the world. Over 120 real estate professionals came together at Property Technology Forum Europe 2018 in Warsaw, co-organised by Property Forum and RICS, to discuss the future of the profession.

Panattoni Europe plans to transform the former Škoda Plzeň complex in the Borské terasy area in Pilsen into a modern technological centre. The extensive 28-hectare brownfield is currently empty, but it has great infrastructure and is well connected to the surrounding industrial plants. Panattoni Europe’s plans are in line with the current development strategy of the city of Pilsen and are currently undergoing an EIA environmental impact assessment. The total amount of investment is estimated at more than €77 million (CZK 2 billion).

Facility managers are no longer the ones that only change the light bulbs or make sure the toilets are clean. FM has grown up and is creating a work environment that supports its users to be able to work productively. Lara Paemen, Director of IFMA Europe, who recently spoke at Property Technology Forum Europe in Warsaw, talked to Property Forum about new trends in facility management.

Online Real Assets and Lodestar have signed a joint agreement to provide the real estate sector with high-value integrated services. The deal will cover both the UK and Central and Eastern European markets.

2017 was an exceptional year for Romania, but the market looks a bit stagnant right now. Răzvan Gheorghiu-Testa FRICS, Partner and Head of the Real Estate Practice Group at Ţuca Zbârcea & Asociaţii talked to Property Forum about market dynamics, legal challenges and the impacts of technology.

Alternative investment products have been slowly growing in popularity for some time now in CEE. As clients look for new types of services from advisory firms, this trend is here to stay. Jonathan Hallett MRICS, Executive Partner | Head of Central & Eastern Europe at Cushman & Wakefield talked to Property Forum about business lines, technology and competition.