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.

ARL Congress 2026

European Regional Policy in Times of Transition

1–2 October 2026 in Cologne, Germany

Programme available & registration now open - find all information at ARL Congress 2026 | ARL-Net

Latest News

10/07/2026

Snow-covered mountain peaks beneath a blue sky, with patches of exposed rock and a snowcat standing on the mountain plateau in the foreground.

AlpPlan at Forum Alpinum 2026: “Alpine communities and territories in a time of glacier loss and climate change”

The ARL Working Group “AlpPlan” hosted a workshop dedicated to discussing the role of spatial planning in addressing the effects of glacier melt on landscapes, territories, and communities across the European Alps.

23/06/2026

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

Crisis-Thinking and Critical Urbanism

Lecture by prof. Colin McFarlane

📅 6 July 2026
🕜 15:30 -17:00
🏢 University of Amsterdam, Roeterseilandcampus - building A
📍 Room A2.07

17/06/2026

Call for contributions on European Cohesion Policy

The Förderkreis für Raum- und Umweltforschung (FRU) invites submissions for the FRU Sponsorship Award 2026, focusing on European Cohesion Policy in times of multiple transformations.

11/06/2026

First Live Meeting of the International Working Group on No Net Land Take in Europe

The ARL International Working Group In Pursuit of Net Zero Land Take in Europe held its first in-person meeting on 23–24 April 2026 in Ghent, Belgium.

01/06/2026

Survey: Spatial planning seen by planners

Spatial planning seen by planners: Spatial planning seen by planners
Are you (or have you been) working in the field of urban design, urban development or spatial planning? Share your experience!

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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