I AM A PROFESSOR EMERITUS and a Distinguished Professor of Infrastructure Management at the Graduate School of Management, Kyoto University. I currently serve as chair of the National Resilience Promotion Council, which is affiliated with the Cabinet Secretariat of the Japanese government. The global spread of recent online technologies and generative AI technologies is fundamentally transforming the way we work. These technologies are not merely complementary to the systems that support urban societies. They symbolize the fusion of real and virtual spaces and provide new forms of communication that will become the foundation of human society.

In this newsletter, I would like to share my thoughts on hybrid societies, which are becoming increasingly important to consider in future urban and regional planning policies.

In 2023, generative AI, symbolized by ChatGPT, rapidly spread around the world. Before the advent of generative AI, how much time and effort did many researchers and practitioners spend collecting standard information and knowledge? However, if the challenges associated with generative AI are appropriately addressed, it will become possible to instantly and freely obtain standard models using generative AI. Research and knowledge/information businesses will increasingly depend on how much they can deviate from the standard models provided by generative AI. This is an era where such deviation becomes the source of value. With the emergence of generative AI, standard models of knowledge and information suddenly appeared in society. The value of knowledge and information is now evaluated based on these standard models. I would like to call this the “benchmarking of society.”

The benchmarking of society has had a significant impact on the role of universities as institutions that generate new knowledge. Medieval universities in Europe originated from the University of Bologna and were established with the aim of training academic specialists in the fields of theology, law, and medicine. Education was conducted through face- to-face oral instruction. Over time, medieval universities, which had focused on training specialists, began to decline. In the late 18th century, the development of Gutenberg’s printing technology gave rise to a new type of university. With the printing of books and the circulation of academic papers, knowledge and information became dispersed, leading to the emergence of diverse new ideas and concepts around the world. As McLuhan pointed out, an academic world resembling Gutenberg’s galaxy, composed of countless stars, was formed. Advances in IT technology have begun to disrupt Gutenberg’s galaxy. There were simply too many stars in the galaxy. The global spread of online and on-demand education due to the COVID-19 pandemic appears to have accelerated the collapse of this galaxy. Furthermore, the proliferation of generative AI poses a threat to the fundamental principle of Gutenberg’s galaxy — the decentralized production of knowledge and information through books and papers. Of course, generative AI cannot be a co-author of creativity. However, it functions as a standard for evaluating creativity. Traditional educational methods, where knowledge is unilaterally transmitted in lecture halls, are facing the need for fundamental reform. Generative AI achieves the modern standardization of knowledge and information based on the databases available in its time. In fact, generative AI can combine existing logic to create new logic. However, only combinations that humans recognize as meaningful remain as creativity. Knowledge and information can be interpreted in diverse ways. This diversity, which deviates from the standard model, becomes the source of new added value.

It is said that the African continent is characterized by excessive diversity and instability. For example, the spatial distribution of savannas has changed significantly over time. Tribes that depend on specific living technologies are forced to migrate in response to changes in the ecosystem. Tribal societies that are forced to migrate have no incentive to invest fixed capital in specific locations. As a result, the accumulation of fixed capital on the African continent had remained extremely low for many years. In history, settlement of people promotes capital investment in fixed spaces and leads to the emergence of cities. Cities function according to the logic of capital. The capitalization of cities requires ownership (or usage rights) of space. For example, individuals capitalize their living space by placing furniture and durable consumer goods in their homes. However, it is impossible to capitalize space that is not owned. When you leave your home, that space becomes someone else’s space. Urban landscapes and commercial districts are formed through public and corporate investment. In this way, part of urban spaces became public spaces, and individual customization became impossible. However, advances in IT technology began to change this situation. In the real world, space is fragmented, and capitalization is exclusive based on ownership relationships. However, in the virtual world, capitalization (accumulation of content) can occur independently of such ownership rights. As a result, the boundary between the real and virtual worlds has become even more blurred. We now live in a hybrid society where the real and virtual worlds intersect. Furthermore, the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the global spread of telework and online meetings. This is a historic event that can be called the “online revolution.”

The advancement of the real world requires social innovation and human resources to realize it. It requires investment of time and money from many stakeholders, and progress is not always rapid. New social technologies such as monitoring technology, IoT, big data, AI, and simulation are beginning to support the development of real urban spaces. Simulations that consider how people, goods, and information are arranged to move within real urban spaces are now required. This is no longer an era of formulating several alternative plans and comparing them qualitatively. We have entered an era where AI technology can generate an infinite number of alternative plans. The challenge lies in developing a system to evaluate the desirability of three- dimensional spaces. We must now develop an evaluation system for urban spaces that considers not only efficiency but also health and safety.

As hybrid society evolves, several issues have already come to light. Urban digital twins will become an important infrastructure in virtual spaces, serving as templates for creation used by many people. Of course, various legal issues remain to be resolved, such as information security and ownership of information assets. If customization of virtual spaces becomes possible, an infinite number of virtual spaces will emerge. This has groundbreaking significance in terms of urban theory. Among the various virtual spaces created by many people, a few may become famous, giving rise to “influencers” in urban space creation. Within this context, platforms to manage customized virtual spaces — including verifying the originality and importance of virtual spaces — will become necessary.

Human actions in real space are constrained by physical conditions. The information about the actions of avatars in virtual space is observed/ controlled by individuals in real space. Individuals in real space are bound by time constraints. The flexibility of actions in real space is supported by capital and various infrastructures in real urban spaces. Of course, capital accumulated in real urban spaces can serve as templates for infrastructure in virtual spaces, such as digital twins. However, due to the constraints of the body in real space, it seems that the principle that the freedom of human behavior in hybrid worlds is guaranteed by capital formation in real space remains unchanged.

We live not only in the physical world but also in various virtual spaces such as social media and the metaverse. The time of “a day” has begun to be grouped into several blocks. To make effective use of this block-structured time, we utilize virtual spaces including smartphones and social media. We can only focus our attention on either the physical world or the virtual world at any given time. Infrastructure has been invested in cities based on the assumption of the spatial fixity of infrastructure. However, with the advancement of online technology, we can now choose whether to communicate in real or virtual spaces. More importantly, we allocate our time throughout the day between activities in real spaces and those in virtual spaces. It seems that research in regional science must now expand to include hybridized spaces.

Kiyoshi Kobayashi

(Published on RSAI Newsletter 2025 May)

Regional Science Policy & Practice Volume 17, Issue 6 , June 2025

Articles

Book Review

Call for Papers for Special Issue in Regional Science Policy & Practice (RSPP)

Title: "Impacts of War in Ukraine: Perspectives and Challenges"

Guest Editor: Dr Kateryna Zabarina - University of Warsaw; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

This special issue aims to collect articles on perspectives and challenges coming from ongoing war. Unlike the previous RSPP Special Issue "Ukraine: geopolitical realities and regional development perspectives" dedicated to understanding a way Ukraine went starting in 1991 without focusing on full-scale war, this issue will address the economic, social, environmental, psychological and geopolitical impacts, providing a platform for in-depth analysis and discussion. By featuring diverse perspectives and rigorous analyses, it aims to foster a deeper understanding of the multifacetedness of the war phenomena and provide a foundation for building more resilient and peaceful futures.

Special issue information:

The war in Ukraine has led to various consequences, reshaping all aspects of everyday life. This special issue aims to explore these changes, bringing together diverse disciplinary perspectives to deepen our understanding of the conflict's far-reaching effects. Contributions will address themes such as displacement and resilience, economic disruptions, social transformations, ecological damage, and shifts in international relations, with a particular attention to spatial dimension.

By examining these aspects, this issue seeks not only to provide critical analyses but also to offer valuable guidance for policymakers, academics, and practitioners in crafting strategies for rebuilding, reconciliation, and future conflict prevention.

Keywords: Impact of war, challenges and perspectives, multidisciplinary perspective.

Manuscript submission information:

We kindly invite contributions on topics related (but not limited) to:

• Challenges and perspectives for various industries
• Social and Cultural aspects (i.e. education, migration, culture etc.)
• Effects of war on environment
• Geopolitical implications
• Psychological issues
• Policy evaluation (i.e. challenges and possibilities of joining the EU)

All manuscripts will be submitted via the Regional Science Policy & Practice online submission system (https://www.editorialmanager.com/rspp/). Authors should indicate in the cover letter that the paper is submitted for consideration for publication in this special issue “Impacts of War in Ukraine: Perspectives and Challenges”, otherwise, your submission will be handled as a regular manuscript.

Submission deadline: December 31^st 2025 

Related literature:

Maruniak, E., Lisovskyi, S., & Rudenko, L. (2023). The spatial dimension of the war effects in Ukraine: An agenda for country recovery. Europa XXI, 44.

Biagini, E. (1993). Spatial dimensions of conflict. GeoJournal, 31, 119-128.

Hinterleitner, M., & Sager, F. (2022). Policy’s role in democratic conflict management. Policy Sciences, 55(2), 239-254.

Bjorkdahl, A., & Buckley-Zistel, S. (Eds.). (2016). Spatialising peace and conflict: Mapping the production of places, sites and scales of violence. Springer.

The RSAI President, Prof Shibusawa and the RSAI Executive Director, Ana Vinuela, have the pleasure to announce the new elected RSAI Fellow for 2025.

But first, we would like to thank the members of the RSAI Fellows Selection Committee -made up of Prof. Genevieve Giuliano (chair), Jouke Van Dijk and Amit Batabyal-, who received and evaluated the candidatures for this year's RSAI Fellows election; and also thank all the RSAI Fellows that participated in the ballot. 

According to the votes received from the RSAI Fellows, four (4) new Fellows have been elected this year 2025 (ordered in alphabetical order):

1. Daniela -Luminita Constantin (Bucharest University of Economic Studies, Romania)
2. Sarah Low (University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, USA)
3. Daoqin Tong (School of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning at Arizona State University, USA)
4. Hans Westlund (KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm; Jönköping International Business School, Jönköping, Sweden)

Congratulations to all for this outstanding achievement! 

The Gran Sasso Science Institute, a public, research-intensive university dedicated to doctoral education in L’Aquila, Italy, has advertised 12 fully funded doctoral positions in its 4-year English-taught PhD programme in Regional Science & Economic Geography. The programme offers training in both quantitative and qualitative research methods in economic geography and regional studies.

Deadline: 23 May, 2025

L’Aquila is a mid-size historical town in central Italy, surrounded by mountains in a largely unspoiled natural environment. It is the capital city of the Abruzzo region. Rome can be reached from L’Aquila in about one hour and half by bus.

Here is the programme’s official statement:

The Ph.D. program in “Regional Science and Economic Geography” is a cutting-edge and interdisciplinary program designed to explore the intricate relationship between space and socioeconomic phenomena, by employing mixed methods and interdisciplinary approaches. This Ph.D. program equips students with the skills to offer evidence-based policy recommendations, rooted in robust empirical findings and established causal relationships, and fosters research in economic and/or human geography. It aims to address the challenges posed by globalization, urbanization, climate change, and development by fostering a deeper understanding of these processes. We welcome students with different backgrounds, including (but not limited to) applied economics, economic and/or human geography, or sociology, who share an interest in these issues.

The PhD Programme lasts four years. The Academic Year will start on November 1st, 2025. The GSSI awards scholarships until the thesis dissertation and for a maximum of four years. The yearly gross amount of the scholarship is € 16.243,00. An additional 50% on a monthly basis can be awarded for research periods abroad if approved by the GSSI. During their first year, PhD students will be offered free accomodation by the GSSI. In the remaining three years they will receive from the university a contribution to their housing costs.

PhD students will participate in the department’s interdisciplinary research tracks along with faculty members.

All details related to this call can be found here.

* Students with interests in critical and heterodox regional studies and economic geographies are encouraged to apply *

Workshop “Smart and Sustainable Cities/Urban Planning”. International Conference on Civil and Environmental Engineering. organized in partnership with National University of Architecture and Construction of Armenia.

RSAI members are interested just in that workshop (within a larger conference on Engineering).

RSAI just funded the workshop on Smart and Sustainable Cities/Urban Planning under the RSAI Program Naturing Talent.

The International Conference on Civil and Environmental Engineering (ICCEE 2025) will be held on October 24–26, 2025, at the National University of Architecture and Construction of Armenia (NUACA) in Yerevan. This conference aims to bring together leading academics, researchers, engineers, and industry professionals from around the world to share knowledge, exchange ideas, and explore cutting-edge advances in civil and environmental engineering.

Hosted by NUACA and co-organized in partnership with the Regional Science Association International (RSAI), the conference will serve as a vibrant platform to foster interdisciplinary collaboration, inspire innovative thinking, and promote sustainable development strategies for the built environment.

This conference offers a unique opportunity to explore innovative solutions to contemporary challenges and to contribute to shaping the future of resilient, sustainable, and intelligent urban environments. We warmly welcome your participation and look forward to fruitful scientific exchange in the inspiring setting of Armenia.

The thematic scope of the ICCEE 2025 includes a wide range of pressing and emerging topics in the field, organized in the following focus areas:

Further details on the conference subtopics can be found at the following link

More info at: https://iccee.nuaca.am/

Workshop “Smart and Sustainable Cities/Urban Planning”. International Conference on Civil and Environmental Engineering. organized in partnership with National University of Architecture and Construction of Armenia.

RSAI members are interested just in that workshop (within a larger conference on Engineering).

RSAI just funded the workshop on Smart and Sustainable Cities/Urban Planning under the RSAI Program Naturing Talent.

The International Conference on Civil and Environmental Engineering (ICCEE 2025) will be held on October 24–26, 2025, at the National University of Architecture and Construction of Armenia (NUACA) in Yerevan. This conference aims to bring together leading academics, researchers, engineers, and industry professionals from around the world to share knowledge, exchange ideas, and explore cutting-edge advances in civil and environmental engineering.

Hosted by NUACA and co-organized in partnership with the Regional Science Association International (RSAI), the conference will serve as a vibrant platform to foster interdisciplinary collaboration, inspire innovative thinking, and promote sustainable development strategies for the built environment.

This conference offers a unique opportunity to explore innovative solutions to contemporary challenges and to contribute to shaping the future of resilient, sustainable, and intelligent urban environments. We warmly welcome your participation and look forward to fruitful scientific exchange in the inspiring setting of Armenia.

The thematic scope of the ICCEE 2025 includes a wide range of pressing and emerging topics in the field, organized in the following focus areas:

Further details on the conference subtopics can be found at the following link

More info at: https://iccee.nuaca.am/

Summer Institute 2025

Resilience X-Factor of a City

16-20 June 2025, Košice, Slovakia

Registration deadline for PhD student: 15 April 2025.

Contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The Summer Institute will be held in Košice, Slovakia, from June 16 to June 20, 2025, and will bring together early-stage researchers and scholars interested in urban and regional science and related fields.

The Summer Institute 2025 focuses on understanding and strengthening urban resilience by addressing shocks, assessing impacts, fostering adaptation, enabling mitigation, and driving improvement. As our world becomes increasingly complex, cities must evolve, adapt, and bounce back stronger from challenges – whether environmental, social, or economic.

Participants will gain insights into mitigating risks, responding to diverse shocks, and rebuilding cities as resilient, modern, and sustainable urban hubs. By exploring the invisible strength of urban spaces, participants will develop a better understanding of what makes cities resilient in the face of uncertainty and how adaptation and proactive reaction can minimize negative impacts.

The outcomes of the Summer Institute 2025 will also be used as a science-based input for the global COP30 Climate Conference in Belem, Brasil.

Invited speakers and experts

How to apply

Participants should be Master/PhD students or young scientists in the fields of study such as Economics, Regional Science, Architecture, Urban studies, Geography. Participants should be fluent in English (minimum level B2) and eager to work in teams and enthusiasts for solving actual city problems

Further details are available on our website: https://summerinstitute.tuke.sk/

Call for Applications

Two Summer School Syllabus

4-8 August 2025 and 11-15 August 2025

Angra do Heroísmo, Terceira Island, Azores, Portugal