ARL International

Welcome to the knowledge and communication platform of the ARL - Academy for Territorial Development in the Leibniz Association , where you’ll find comprehensive information on the Academy’s international expertise.

NEW: Our missions

#1 Promoting sustainable, resilient and equitable water management
#2 Planning sustainable infrastructures

Latest News

12/01/2026

Internationalisation Advisory Group draws positive conclusions

At its final meeting, the advisory group praises the international expansion of ARL activities

07/01/2026

Wide landscape view with dry grassland and a clothesline with hanging laundry in the foreground, and industrial silos and conveyor structures in the background. A red diagonal overlay on the right displays the text “ARL Congress 2026”.

ARL Congress 2026: Call for Abstracts

We invite scholars, practitioners, and policymakers to submit abstracts for the ARL Congress 2026, taking place on 1–2 October 2026 in Cologne (Maternushaus).

05/01/2026

How can spatial planning and development foster sustainable and just transformations?

Mission Statement of the ARL Forum Gender and Spatial Transformation now available!

05/01/2026

Indo-German Knowledge Exchange on Regional Spatial Planning in Germany

Following a visit to the ARL Headquarters by Indian experts on 18 December 2025, during which there was a stimulating exchange of views on spatial planning and regional planning specifics in Germany and India, ARL President Axel Priebs was invited to give a presentation on regional planning in the Hanover region as part of the Indian Urban Knowledge Webinar Series.

18/12/2025

Aerial city view with river and bridges, partly overlaid by a red diagonal shape. White text on the overlay reads “Summer School 2026”.

ARL International Summer School 2026 on Urban Infrastructures

Call for Applications

The Summer School will take place from 8 to 10 July 2026 at the University of Amsterdam.

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Who we are

The ARL – Academy for Territorial Development in the Leibniz Association is the central platform and professional voice of spatial science research and practice. As a social research infrastructure, we bring together recognised experts on socially relevant topics.

We provide our members and all participants in our network with the human and financial resources necessary for inter- and transdisciplinary cooperation, the synthesis of spatial knowledge and the effective transfer of results. In this way, we tackle current issues of sustainable spatial development in an integrated, multidisciplinary and practice-orientated manner.

This inter- and transdisciplinary approach characterises all our activities, events and publications with the aim of stimulating forward-thinking change and actively shaping the process of spatial transformation.

The ARL is a member of the Leibniz Assoctiation.

The Academy