The CROSS-REIS team successfully participated in the 64th Congress of the European Regional Science Association (ERSA), which took place in Athens from 26–29 August 2025 under the theme “Regional Science in Turbulent Times: In Search of a Resilient, Sustainable and Inclusive Future.”
This year’s congress was particularly significant as it marked the first fully in-person ERSA annual meeting since the pandemic. The event brought together participants from all continents, highlighting the strength and vibrancy of the regional science community. With over 1,150 paper submissions and almost 100 special sessions, the congress provided an exceptional platform for academic exchange, debate, and networking. Sessions covered a wide spectrum of topics, ranging from regional resilience and sustainability transitions to innovation ecosystems, spatial inequalities, and governance challenges in the face of global crises.
The CROSS-REIS consortium contributed to these debates with the presentation of the paper “Resilience, Network Connectivity and Regenerative Economy: A Study in the Western Balkans”, authored by Umut Türk, John Östh, Aura Reggiani, Jelena J. Stanković, Ivana Marjanović, Marija Džunić, Marina Stanojević, and Marina Toger. The presentation took place in the parallel session “The Spatial, Regional and Urban Dimensions of Circular Economy.” The paper explored how resilience and network connectivity can foster regenerative economic pathways in the Western Balkans, linking regional science approaches with the transformative ambitions of regenerative and circular economy models. By highlighting the importance of connectivity and system-level approaches, the UR-WISE team contributed fresh perspectives to the congress discussions on how regions can adapt to and recover from overlapping crises while building more inclusive and sustainable futures.
Beyond the presentation, the CROSS-REIS team actively engaged in discussions with researchers, policymakers, and practitioners from across Europe and beyond, strengthening the project’s international visibility and expanding collaborative networks. Participation in this prestigious congress provided valuable insights for the ongoing work of CROSS-REIS and reinforced the project’s commitment to advancing research and practice on resilience, sustainability, and regenerative economies.