Your ideas for spatial transformation
Multiple crises are dominating the news, academic discourse and planning practice. Now more than ever, spatial planning needs new and innovative approaches, as well as a critical re-examination and further development of established practices and routines. In short: planning practice and spatial sciences need your unique expertise and your fresh ideas for transformative approaches!
Your profile
Do you work in planning practice or the spatial sciences, and did you complete your first degree no more than 12 years ago? Are you looking forward to critically discussing and developing your ideas together with other planners from academia and practice? Are you keen to jointly develop action-oriented knowledge for sustainable spatial development and want to end up with a concrete result and see your idea make an impact?
Application details
Apply with your ideas for innovative working groups and knowledge transfer formats via the ARL’s online application process! This call marks the launch of an initiative specifically tailored to your target group. You can submit your ideas as a team comprising representatives from academia and practice between 1 June and 1 September 2026.
The call is generally open in terms of topics. However, your proposed working group or transfer format must demonstrate a clear link to one of the ongoing missions or to the priorities of the ARL’s current research concept (PDF).
We look forward to receiving your proposals for innovative projects addressing current spatial issues, stimulating critical debate and providing new impulses for the further development of spatial planning.
Your format
Is your topic best suited to a working group in which you jointly discuss, share and produce knowledge, ultimately resulting in, for example, an article or a position paper? Then this is the right format for you!
Or does your idea unfold its full potential in an interactive dialogue or participatory event format? In that case, a transfer format is the right choice. These and similar ideas are very welcome!
Our support
At the ARL, we support you in implementing your ideas. This includes guidance on both substantive and organisational matters, as well as assistance in publishing your results and communicating them to a wider audience.
Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions about your application or are unsure which format best suits your idea. Once your working group or transfer format has been approved, we will support you with our expertise, networking opportunities, and methodological as well as organisational know-how—both in implementing your projects and in transferring your results into academia, practice, and society.
We look forward to your ideas!
- Submission deadline: 1 September 2026
Further information and the application form can be found on the ARL website
Contact
For any questions, please contact:
Dr Jana Baldy
Scientific Advisor to the Secretary General
Tel. +49 511 34842-76
jana.baldy@arl-net.de
