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

Global Challenges and Regional Science (GCRS)

Check out the latest paper:

Volume 5 - March 2026

"Transformation from green to brown: A geospatial analysis of urban expansion, urban heat environment, and agriculture land use conversion"

Authors: Muhammad Ahsan, Muhammad Mashhood Arif, Ahmad Adeel, Nida Batool Sheikh

more information about this issue

Global Challenges and Regional Science (GCRS)

Call for Papers – Global Challenges and Regional Science (GCRS)

The European Regional Science Association (ERSA) invites submissions to its newest journal, published by Elsevier.

Since its launch in 2025, GCRS has achieved:

• Immediacy Index: 1.53 (leading among peer journals)

• 100 days average from submission to acceptance

• Strong trajectory toward Scopus indexation

⏳ 100% APC Waiver available for submissions received by May 31, 2026.

After this date, the standard APC of USD 1,800 will apply.

Take advantage of this opportunity to publish high-quality, Open Access research with rapid editorial turnaround.

Journal submission website:

https://www.editorialmanager.com/gcrs/default.aspx

Regional Science Policy & Practice (RSPP)

Check out the latest paper:

Volume 18, Issue 4

"Regional demographic dynamics in Germany: A cluster-based analysis"

Author: Andree Ehlert

more information about this issue

Papers in Regional Science (PiRS)

Latest Article:

Volume 105, Issue 2

"Evaluating the impact of targeted decentralization on household consumption: Evidence from marginalized and privileged regions in Kenya"

Author: Frederick Kibon Changwony

more information about this issue

New Article in REGION Vol. 13 No. 1 (2026)

Latest Article: "A Systematic Literature Review on the Relations between “Firm-Region Nexus” and Firm Productivity"

Authors: Pierre-François Wilmotte, Didier Van Caillie, Isabelle Reginster, Marcus Dejardin, Jean-Marie Halleux

more

News from Scienze Regionali

New Issue (1/2026)

"Introduction to the Special Issue: Regions in the European Economic Policy: Towards a More Resilient Europe"

Authors: Eleonora Pierucci, Davide Vurchio

Explore the issue

New Issue in Review of Regional Research (RRR)

Latest Article:

Volume 46, Issue 1

Latest article: "Structural and transformative change as central challenges for regional development"

Authors: Knut Koschatzky, Hendrik Hansmeier 

Access to all publications here

Investigaciones Regionales - Journal of Regional Research

Investigaciones Regionales - Journal of Regional Research has published the 64^rd Issue, the first volume corresponding to 2026. 

Latest article: "A test of the relationship between the Pareto exponent and sample size"

Authors: Rafael González-Val, Fernando Sanz-Gracia

You can access all the articles at: https://investigacionesregionales.org/en/revista/numero-64/

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

Latest issue of Romanian Journal of Regional Science

Vol.19, No.2, Winter, Issued December 2025

Latest Article:"A community context perspective on community-led local development under the LEADER programme"

Authors:  Daniel Pop, Marton Balogh, Babeş-Bolyai University of Cluj-Napoca, Romania

More information about this issue here

Journal of Regional & Urban Economics (JRUE/RERU)

Check out the journal's latest Varia issue

This varia issue brings together an exploration of the concept of medium-sized cities as a territorial category at the crossroads of urban research and public policy, alongside analyses of investor relations management and foreign firm anchoring in Casablanca, urban fallow land as a lever for urban resilience, tourism diversification as a recovery strategy, energy poverty in La Réunion and the emergence of alternative local wealth indicators.

Do not miss the journal's upcoming issue

This issue will bring together five original contributions on immigrant integration in France, citizen preferences in town centre renewal, social housing proximity to polluting sites, fiscal behavior in Spanish municipalities and lobster fishing conflicts approached through game theory.

Find out more

(5/2025)

Latest Article:"Evaluation of local environmental factors using the hedonic price method: The case of Grand Tunis municipalities"

Authors: Souha Temimi, Hanène B Ouada Jamoussi, Inès Ben Ammar

Find out more

Portuguese Review of Regional Studies (RPER): Nº 73 (2026) is already available!

Editor-in.Chef: José Cadima Ribeiro

Co-Editors: Conceição Rego e João Marques

Published: 19-01-2026

https://www.review-rper.com/index.php/rper/issue/view/73

Full Issue

 PDF

Spatial Economic Analysis 

Current Issue: Volume 20, Issue 4

This thematic issue comprises of papers on globalisation and topics and/or researchers from the Global South.

More information about this issue here.

The journal published for the first time an editorial with the list of journal articles that share data and code. This can be seen here.

Journal of Economic Geography

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

British and Irish Section

The British and Irish Section is delighted to confirm that their 2026 annual conference will take place at Queens University, Belfast on May 13 and 14. Chair of the Local Organising Committee, Dr Kevin Mulligan, says that "the Belfast conference will be a great occasion, and it is wonderful to see the conference returning to Northern Ireland for the first time since 2007". 

Belfast is served by two airports, Belfast International Airport and the George Best Belfast City Airport, with good connectivity to the rest of Europe. Dublin Airport has flights to the US, Asia, and Africa and has a direct bus connection to Belfast. Dublin to Belfast is two hours by bus or train. There are also ferry connections to Belfast from Liverpool and Cairnryan in Scotland.

So please mark the date in your diary and keep an eye on the Section website for more details.

German Speaking Section

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/

Italian Section

Call for papers – XLVII Annual Scientific Conference

Florence, June 24-26 2026

REGIONS BETWEEN INNOVATION AND SUSTAINABILITY: THE CHALLENGES FOR DEVELOPMENT POLICIES

The Italian Association of Regional Science (A.I.S.Re), the Italian section of the Regional Science Association International (RSAI), announces its 47th Annual Scientific Conference.

The conference, which welcomes contributions from national and international scholars across a variety of disciplines related to regional science, will be held at the Dipartimento di Scienze per l’Economia e l’Impresa, Università di Firenze, Polo delle Scienze Sociali di Novoli, Florence.

More information: here

Italian Section

The call for the AISRe Summer School is open.

Here you can find detailed information: https://www.aisre.it/7th-summer-school-aisre-salerno-2026/

Title: Green Transformation and Inequalities: New Challenges for Regional Policies (Salerno, Italy, 25-29 May 2026) 

Portuguese Section

Call for Papers | 33rd APDR Congress, June 30-July 3, 2026, Polytechnic University of Cávado and Ave, Barcelos, Portugal

The APDR invites regional scientists, economists, managers, sociologists, geographers, urban planners, engineers, policy makers, and researchers of related disciplines to participate in the 33rd APDR Congress with the theme "Interregional Governance, Cohesion and Sustainability: Overcoming Territorial Inequalities for a Balanced Future" that will be held from 2 to 3 of July, 2026, at the Polytechnic University of Cávado and Ave, Barcelos, Portugal. On June 30 and July 1, 2026, just before the main conference, a Sustainable Regional Development Academy will be organized for a limited number of participants.

The theme “Interregional Governance, Cohesion and Sustainability: Overcoming Territorial Inequalities for a Balanced Future” underscores the growing importance of collaborative frameworks that promote equitable and sustainable development across regions. In the face of persistent territorial disparities, effective interregional governance emerges as a key mechanism for fostering cohesion, resilience, and shared prosperity. By integrating economic, environmental, social, and cultural dimensions, this approach seeks to ensure that sustainability is achieved not only within individual regions but also across territorial boundaries, paving the way toward a more balanced and inclusive future.

Deadline for Abstracts submissions: April 2, 2026. Authors should submit their abstracts through the online submission system by following the link https://cmt3.research.microsoft.com/APDR2026

Looking forward to hosting you in Barcelos, Portugal!

The Organizing Committee and the Board of APDR

33rd APDR Congress 

Portuguese Section

Call for Applications

2 SUSTAINABLE REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT ACADEMY June 30-July 1, 2026, IPCA, Barcelos, Portugal 

Places are limited to 25 Participants 

Apply Now

About the Academy 

The Academy is a two-day format, just before the 2026 APDR conference (2-3 July) at the Polytechnic University of Cávado and Ave, Barcelos (included in the registration fee), including: outstanding Lecturers, presentations by participants, and a field visit. 

During the Sustainable Regional Development Academy, the participants will: 

• Develop a collaborative research project based on the case study of Águas do Norte, S.A. 
• Understand the specifics of wastewater treatment and the supply chain value in the water sector. 
• Identify problems related to the decarbonisation of wastewater treatment plants, considering different perspectives (e.g., economic, financial, social, and environmental). 
• Design a strategic plan proposal aimed at solving the problem of decarbonisation of wastewater treatment plants. 
• Present and discuss the proposed solution to the identified problem.

Deadline: 15 March 2026

here more information

Polish Section

ERSA - Polish Section Annual Meeting, 25-26 May 2026 in Katowice, Poland

Keynote Speaker: Andrea Caragliu, Professor of Regional and Urban Economics, Politecnico di Milano. RSAI Fellow.

The event is organized in partnership with the International Scientific Conference “Cities of the Future – The Future in the City”, focusing on

the central theme Urban Dynamics in Interdisciplinary Research: From Diagnosis to Vision. It will feature presentations addressing the

development of cities and the challenges impacting them, as well as the dynamics of their surrounding regions.

Submit your extended abstract at:

https://www.ue.katowice.pl/en/events/cities-of-the-future-the-future-in-the-city/organizational-information/submissions-and-publications-call-for-papers.html

More information at:

https://www.ue.katowice.pl/en/events/cities-of-the-future-the-future-in-the-city.html

Spanish Section

Dear colleagues,

Prior to the official launch of the Conference, we would like to highlight some important details:

<![if !supportLists]>1.<![endif]>The Conference will take place in October.

<![if !supportLists]>2.<![endif]>In order to simplify procedures, the preliminary abstract submission round has been eliminated. Full papers or extended abstracts will therefore be the documents evaluated by the Scientific Committee.

<![if !supportLists]>3.<![endif]>The submission deadline has been brought forward to 12 June. This will allow decisions to be communicated by 30 June at the latest, enabling participants to organise travel and registration before 15 July (prior to the summer holidays).

<![if !supportLists]>4.<![endif]>The virtual participation option will be maintained in order to encourage international participation, although in-person attendance will be promoted as the preferred format.

<![if !supportLists]>5.<![endif]>Regarding the Early Career Researcher Award “Juan Ramón Cuadrado,” eligibility is open to any non-PhD researcher, regardless of age, as well as to researchers who have defended their PhD within the three years prior to the date of the Conference.

<![if !supportLists]>6.<![endif]>As a new feature in this edition, 10 full conference fee waivers are being offered to early career researchers who submit a paper as a candidate for the “Juan Ramón Cuadrado” Award, with the aim of fostering participation and supporting emerging talent in the field of Regional Science.

The Spanish Regional Science Association (AECR), together with the Catalan Regional Science Association (ACCR), cordially invite you to participate in the 50th International Conference on Regional Science, which will take place from 21 to 23 October 2026 at the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC), in Barcelona.

This edition is particularly significant, marking five decades of uninterrupted scientific exchange, debate, and community building in the field of Regional Science. Barcelona—the city where AECR was founded more than fifty years ago—provides a highly symbolic setting that connects the Association’s origins with present and future challenges.

As in previous editions, the Conference will serve as a multidisciplinary forum bringing together academics, professionals, and experts involved in the design and evaluation of public policies to discuss the latest advances in regional and territorial analysis. The scientific programme will include plenary lectures, panel discussions, special sessions, and parallel paper sessions. It remains the main annual meeting in Spain devoted to the study and discussion of regional and territorial issues, with a strong international outlook.

The theme chosen for this commemorative edition is: “AI-Driven Territories for a Sustainable Future: 50 Years Building Knowledge for Regional Development.”

In line with this theme, the Conference will revolve around two closely interconnected and highly topical areas: sustainability—understood from a broad and multidisciplinary perspective—and artificial intelligence and digital transformation. Discussions will address how digitalisation and AI are reshaping territories, economies, and societies, as well as the role of regions, cities, and rural areas in promoting more sustainable, inclusive, and resilient development models.

We warmly encourage you to participate in this special 50th anniversary edition, which offers a unique opportunity to exchange ideas, strengthen professional networks, and collectively reflect on the achievements and future challenges of Regional Science.

It will be a pleasure to welcome you to Barcelona.

As in previous editions, submissions reporting results from ongoing research projects for which a full paper is not yet available will be accepted. In such cases, the Scientific Committee will require the submission of an extended abstract of at least 1,500 words in order to consider acceptance. Templates and further information about the Conference are available on the Conference website.

Papers that are original and authored by non-PhD researchers, regardless of age, or by researchers who have defended their PhD within the three years prior to the date of the Conference, and that are presented within the parallel sessions in the corresponding special session of the 50th Meeting of Regional Studies, will be eligible for the Juan Ramón Cuadrado Early Career Researcher Award. The Award will be granted by the Scientific Committee. The authors of the winning paper will receive an official certificate.

PhD candidates in the early stages of their doctoral research and research-oriented master’s students will benefit from a reduced registration fee, allowing them to attend the parallel sessions of the Conference and participate in the special sessions for early career researchers. In these sessions, they will have the opportunity to deliver a brief presentation of their research ideas.

The Organising Committee and the Scientific Committee also invite you to propose a Special Session for the Conference. Proposals may be submitted from today until 15 May and will be disseminated as they are received and approved by both Committees. Proposals should include the session title, the name(s) of the coordinator(s), and a brief summary of the content, and must be sent to the Conference Secretariat at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. It is recommended to secure at least four contributions per special session. In the event of a high number of submissions, papers may be distributed across different time slots in accordance with the coordinators’ criteria.

Kind regards. We look forward to welcoming you to Barcelona,

The Organising Committee

Spanish Section

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

Serbian Section

31st International Scientific Conference: REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND DEMOGRAPHIC FLOWS that is going to be held on June 26th, 2026, at University of Niš, Faculty of Economics, Niš, Serbia

Detailed information available on the link:http://www.eknfak.ni.ac.rs/regionalni-razvoj/2026/ 

Croatian Section

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.

See all upcoming events

New presidency of the German-speaking section

We are happy to announce Dieter Pennerstorfer, University of Linz, as newly elected president, as well as the following new Members of the Executive Board: Angelika Krehl, Hochschule Niederrhein, NIERS (vice-president); Sascha Frohwerk, FH Salzburg (vice-president); Julia Bachtrögler-Unger, WIFO (scientific secretary); Franz-Josef Bade (Treasurer).

AISRe Award Winners / Vincitori Premi AISRe

We are pleased to congratulate the AISRe Award Winners.

Discover the full list of winners here:

https://www.aisre.it/en/vincitori-premi-aisre-2/

Last month, Prof. Daniel Rauhut and Mag. Dr. Marika Gruber published a new edited volume on “Refugee Housing in Europe – Challenges and Opportunities in Multi-Dimensional Governance”. 

The book sheds light on how different European countries have addressed the challenges of increased housing demand in the wake of significant refugee influxes, including Ukrainian displaced persons. Contributors evaluate the effectiveness of New Public Management arrangements and multi-dimensional governance systems in refugee housing provision in non-urban areas, offer insights into diverse approaches and share good-practices.