Keynote Lecture

Prof. Peter Nijkamp, Emeritus Professor at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

«The urbanometrics of wellbeing: Modeling city love, spatial comfort zones and prosilient panarchy»

26 Aug, ERSA Congress in Sofia

ERSA Prize in Regional Science 2026 Revealed

ERSA Prize 2026 awarded to Prof. André Torre

Distinguished researcher at INRAE, Paris-Saclay & AgroParisTech, and former ERSA President, his work on proximity & territorial development has shaped regional science.

🏆 Award ceremony: 28 Aug, ERSA Congress in Sofia

Round Table by JRC (European Commission)

We are pleased to highlight a Round Table session organized by the Joint Research Centre (JRC) of the European Commission at the ERSA 65th Congress in Sofia:

«Reviving Industrial Policy: Data for Mapping Competitiveness and Cohesion»

26 Aug, ERSA Congress in Sofia

Volume 7

Check out the latest paper:

A Union under siege, or a Union besieging itself? The EU’s new budget and the future of European integration

Authors: Andrés Rodríguez-Pose, Federico Bartalucci

more information about the latest issue

Volume 18, Issue 9

Check out the latest paper:

Perceived fairness in access to higher education in wartime Ukraine: Social inequalities and trust in admission testing

Author: Halyna Mishchuk, Vita Krol, Yuriy Bilan

more information about this issue

Papers in Regional Science (PiRS)

Volume 105, Issue 4

Latest Article:

The heterogeneous effects of crises on productivity. Regional evidence from the Great Recession

Author: Gianluigi Coppola, Sergio Destefanis, Giulia Nunziante

more information about this issue

Latest Article: Bank Access and Cultural Entropy across the Regions of India

Authors: Govindapuram Suresh

Explore the issue

Indice del numero speciale/2026, supplemento: “Cities and Regions in the Digital Era: The Challenge of the Circular Economy Transition”

Article: Modern Sources of Inequalities in Regional Income Distribution: Theoretical Expectations and Empirical Findings

Authors: Roberta Capello, Camilla Lenzi, Giovanni Perucca

Explore the issue

Volume 46, Issue 2

Latest Article:

Income Composition Inequality and Regional Heterogeneity: the Spanish Case by José Manuel Amoedo

Access to all publications here

Investigaciones Regionales – Journal of Regional Research has published the 65^rd Issue, the second volume corresponding to 2026.

Below you will find the summaries of the papers published in this volume, which can be accessed at https://investigacionesregionales.org/en/revista/spatial-econometrics-and-regional-science-in-memoriam-of-jesus-mur-and-ana-angulo/

We invite authors to submit papers at https://investigacionesregionales.org/en/envio-de-articulos/submission-of-papers-and-others-contributions/

At the end of June the Romanian Journal of Regional Science has launched Vol. 20, Issue 1, Summer 2026, celebrating 20 years of continuous, uninterrupted activity!

The latest issue can be accessed here:

(https://www.rjrs.ase.ro/index.php/current-issue/)

Check out the journal’s latest Varia issue

(3/2026) Transitions territoriale, créativité et innovations.

You can access to this issue here

Editor-in.Chef: José Cadima Ribeiro

Co-Editors: Conceição Rego e João Marques

Published: 27-04-2026

https://www.review-rper.com/index.php/rper/issue/view/74

Spatial Economic Analysis celebrates its first 20 years with a special issue comprising of papers that explore fundamental themes and techniques in spatial economic analysis reflecting both present and future trends.

The special celebratory issue is available now and includes contributions from, among others, Roberta Capello, Geoffrey Hewings, Andres Rodriguez-Posé, Sergio Rey, Rachel Franklin, Bernard Fingleton, Philip McCann, and Raquel Ortega-Argilés. It can be freely accessed for free until the July 31st here Spatial Economic Analysis: Vol 21, No 1.

We are pleased to invite submissions to a Special Issue for the Journal of Economic Geography on: “Advancing Economic Geography with AI: Opportunities, Challenges and Innovations.”

Official CFP link: https://academic.oup.com/joeg/pages/advancing-economic-geo-ai

Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming how we study spatial-economic processes—from text analysis and network-based methods to spatial modeling and GeoAI. While these developments have gained traction in related fields, their integration into economic geography remains uneven. This Special Issue aims to bring together theoretically grounded, methodologically rigorous, and critically reflective research at the intersection of AI and economic geography.

We welcome contributions that explore, for example:

• How can AI reveal new spatial-economic patterns?
• How can unstructured or high-dimensional data (patents, firm reports, mobility traces) inform spatial economic analysis?
• How can AI help rethink concepts like relatedness, agglomeration, spatial inequality, regional development, and global production networks?
• What are the theoretical and ethical implications of using AI in economic geography?
• How can AI insights translate into actionable, place-based policy recommendations?

Paper Development Workshop: Selected contributors will be invited to a one-day online Paper Development Workshop in October 2026. This workshop offers a unique opportunity to receive detailed, one-on-one feedback from the guest editors and invited discussants to refine manuscripts prior to formal submission.

Key Deadlines

• Extended abstracts (1,000 words): June 30, 2026
• Workshop invitations: July 31, 2026
• Draft papers: September 20, 2026
• Full paper submission: January 31, 2027

Submission of abstracts:

Please email: yiou.zhang@tcu.edu, mabb@business.aau.dk and fvdw@hku.hk

We are pleased to share an opportunity to publish your research in a Special Issue of the Journal of the Knowledge Economy (Springer Nature), title Research and Solidarity: Global, Regional and Local Perspectives.

This issue focuses on research guided by knowledge co-creation, inclusivity, and social responsibility — and on how solidarity reshapes knowledge economies across multiple scales.

Both theoretical/conceptual papers and empirical case studies are welcome.

More information you will find here:

https://link.springer.com/collections/deaaaaccch

If you are interested in submitting the paper please contact: morawska@amu.edu.pl

16th GfR Summer Conference in Regional Science at WIFO in Vienna

This year’s GfR Summer Conference in Regional Science will take place on 17-18 September 2026 at the Austrian Institute of Economic Research (WIFO) together with the 17th Geoffrey J.D. Hewings Regional Economics Workshop. We are happy to have Hans Koster (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam) as keynote speaker.

Extended abstracts from all areas of regional science can be submitted until 15 May 2026.

Find the call for papers with further information & submit here: https://gfr.ersa.org/2026/02/10/16-gfr-sommerkonferenz-am-wifo-16th-gfr-summer-conference/

Submission Deadline approaching: see https://ersa.org/events/german-speaking-section-16th-gfr-summer-conference/

Invitation to ERSA Members – Join the 50th International Conference on Regional Science

Dear ERSA Members,

The Spanish Association of Regional Science (AECR), together with the Catalan Association of Regional Science (ACCR), are delighted to invite you to participate in the 50^th International Conference on Regional Science, to be held in Barcelona from 21–23 October 2026 at the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC).

This special edition marks 50 years of scientific exchange, collaboration, and community-building in Regional Science. Celebrating this milestone in Barcelona—the city where AECR was founded—offers a unique opportunity to connect our shared history with the challenges and opportunities shaping the future of regions and territories.

Under the theme “AI-Driven Territories for a Sustainable Future: 50 Years Building Knowledge for Regional Development”, the conference will explore how artificial intelligence, digital transformation, and sustainability are reshaping regional development, cities, and rural areas across the world.

We warmly encourage all ERSA members to join us for this landmark anniversary edition, contribute to the scientific debate, strengthen international networks, and celebrate together five decades of progress in Regional Science.

We look forward to welcoming you to Barcelona in 2026.

Organizing Committee

50th International Conference on Regional Science

VII SEMINAR FOR NEW ACADEMIC RESEARCHERS – 24^th – 25^th September 2026 – Faculty of Economics, Business and Tourism of the University of Alcalá

The Faculty of Economics, Business and Tourism of the University of Alcalá, in Madrid, is pleased to host the VII Seminar for New Academic Researchers (SNAR) 2026.

Following the aims and scope of the previous successful editions, the SNAR seeks to gather a group of researchers, academics, and students (PhD candidates or graduates) to share previous, current, and potential future works among all participants rather than presenting a specific research paper, with the main purpose of guiding new researchers in developing their long-term careers.

Thus, we especially invite you to present a line of research (past, present, or future), or a project in which you are involved (or that you are interested in) rather than just a specific article. This year, the seminar will be completed with some training courses for early career researchers.

We encourage contributions on topics related (but not limited) to the diverse fields involved in regional science and input-output analysis: economics, econometrics, urban planning, geography, tourism, inequality, health and welfare, impact evaluation, structural analysis, environmental economics, labour market, etc.

The format of the Seminar will be hybrid: all sessions (i.e., practical courses, panel sessions and lectures) will be available in a virtual platform. Therefore, registration and attendance to the SNAR may be onsite or online, indistinctly.

All the valuable comments and suggestions shared during the meeting will also contribute to building a network of researchers interested in regional economic development and Economic geography.

Please, confirm your willingness to participate in this Seminar by sending your abstract to snar@uah.es, including your name(s), affiliation(s), type of assistance (online or onsite), main topic and 3-5 keywords.

The Seminar will be held on September 24th-25th, 2026, in Alcalá de Henares, Madrid (Spain), at the Faculty of Economics, Business and Tourism of the University of Alcalá. Come to check it out and spread the word! Looking forward to meeting you all in Madrid.

Deadlines:

Submission of abstracts: June 20th, 2026.

Notification of acceptance: July 5th, 2026

More information about the event will be sent soon.

More information in attach:

https://sites.google.com/view/snar2026/home

Abstract Modele:

Modelo_abstract_snar7_english

Conference titled “EU Regional Development Dialogues: From Policy to Research” will take place on 28–29 September 2026 in Split, Croatia (Technology Park Split) and is organised in cooperation with the Faculty of Economics, Business and Tourism, University of Split, the Institute for Development and International Relations (IRMO), and the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission, together with several institutional partners.

I would like to particularly highlight the second day of the conference, which will be dedicated to a Regional Science Research Incubator Workshop aimed at early-career researchers and PhD students. This workshop is designed as a mentoring and discussion platform where young researchers can present their research ideas or work in progress and receive detailed feedback from senior scholars and leading researchers in regional science. We believe this is a very valuable opportunity for young ERSA members to discuss their research at an early stage, improve their papers, and connect with senior researchers in the field.

More detailed information about the programme and the Research Incubator Workshop can be found here.

Hungarian Regional Science Association 24th Annual Meeting

«The role of universities in regional and urban development»

Debrecen, 21-22 October 2026

University of Debrecen

https://www.mrtt.hu/en/annual_meeting_2026.html

Israeli section’s annual conference is scheduled to take place on February 23, 2027, at Sapir Academic College, Israel.

More information soon

The British and Irish Section held its 52nd Annual Conference in Queens University Belfast on May 12th and 13th and it was again a huge success. The local organiser Dr Kevin Mulligan led a wonderful event and delegates from across Europe enjoyed the Irish hospitality.

The 2027 conference is already in planning by the local organiser, Dr Luise Koeppen, when we will return to Scotland. The 2027 conference will be in Aberdeen next May, so please keep an eye out for more details.

At the Belfast conference the 2025 Moss Madden Medal for the best paper in regional science by a Section member last year was awarded to Dr John Paul Clifford, Prof Frank Crowley, and Prof Declan Jordan for their paper «The role of FDI-focused business and technology parks in promoting local employment growth», published in Regional Studies.

Congratulations to the new ASRDLF Executive Board

ERSA warmly congratulates Professor Sébastien Bourdin on his election as President of the Association de Science Régionale de Langue Française (ASRDLF) for the 2026–2028 term, together with the newly elected Executive Board.

The new Executive Board also includes Bogdan Ibanescu as Secretary General, Achille Warmant as Deputy Secretary General, and Amélie Gonçalves as Treasurer.

We wish the new leadership every success in strengthening the visibility, openness and international engagement of the French-speaking regional science community. We look forward to continuing our close collaboration with ASRDLF and supporting its important contribution to regional science across Europe and beyond.

Congratulations to the new Polish Section Managing Board

ERSA warmly congratulates Professor Mariusz Sokołowicz on his election as President of the Polish Section for the 2026–2029 term.

The new Managing Board also includes Edyta Szafranek-Stefaniuk as Vice-President, Wojciech Dyba as Secretary, Ewa Boryczka-Kubiak as Treasurer, and Eliza Farelnik and Wioletta Kilar as Board Members.

ERSA would also like to express its sincere gratitude to Professor Artur Ochojski for his dedicated leadership and valuable contribution to the Polish Section over the past ten years. We wish the new Board every success in its mandate and look forward to continuing our close collaboration.

This year’s Award is dedicated to the theme:

Economic Impact of Disasters: Risk Assessment, Vulnerability and Policy Responses

Further information, including the Call for Papers, the Application Form, and the Editorial Guidelines for manuscript preparation, is available on the Centro Einaudi website:

https://www.centroeinaudi.it/notizie-in-evidenza/7450-economic-impact-of-disasters-risk-assessment,-vulnerability-and-policy-responses-call-for-papers.html

Submission deadline: 30 September 2026.

Two papers will be selected for awards of €3,000 each (gross). Awardees will present their work at the Giorgio Rota Award Ceremony, which will take place in Turin, between the end of November and the first ten days of December 2026. The event will feature an invited lecturer followed by presentations of the winning papers and a discussion.

ERDM provides in-depth academic expertise in the interdisciplinary field of regional policy and strategic management. The obtained knowledge and competencies are related to the planning and management of development policies at the regional and national level, with an emphasis on understanding the economic, institutional, and administrative factors that influence the effectiveness of policy instruments.

ERDM is supported by an International Advisory Board of leading academics from world-class Universities or Institutions, such as the London School of Economics, the University of Manchester, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, the University of Strathclyde, the Politecnico di Milano and the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

For more information, please see: https://erdm.uth.gr/