The North Rhine-Westphalia working group is one of seven regional working groups of the Academy for Territorial Development (ARL), and is made up of representatives from spatial science and planning practice.

Its members come from public authorities, universities, non-university research institutions, municipalities as well as self-governing bodies of the economy and associations.

The North Rhine-Westphalia working group takes an interdisciplinary approach to issues and developments that are of great importance to the federal state and its various regions. It supports important (spatial) decision-making processes at the political and practical planning level in North Rhine-Westphalia by providing scientific advice and assistance. It also serves as a forum for the exchange and evaluation of knowledge and information between its members.

In addition to the regular general meetings, the working group’s tasks are implemented via sub-groups focusing on specific issues that are particularly important in terms of state or federal policy.

Title photo by Jonathan Kemper on Unsplash.