Shaping spatial transformation - Open call for working and transfer formats

Missions are a new instrument of the ARL, with which the work and transfer formats are aligned to topics and fields of action with high currency and relevance. Along the missions, original scientific and practice-relevant contributions are to be made aiming to solve societal challenges by promoting inter- and/or transdisciplinary cooperation within the ARL.

The corresponding calls for proposals are published on the ARL's website and in the ARL's newsletter. They are initially dedicated to the missions “Water” and “Infrastructure(s)” in the years 2025 and 2026 along the overarching research concept “Shaping spatial transformation in times of multiple crises”.

Mission #1 “Promoting sustainable, resilient and equitable water management”

The aim is to systematically link water as a vital, increasingly scarce and unequally distributed resource with issues of spatial planning and governance – for sustainable water management in the context of increasing extremes (drought and flooding), to protect nature and the environment, but also to make cities and regions more resilient in the face of climate change.

Mission #2 “Planning sustainable infrastructures”

The aim is to pool spatial expertise on infrastructure and infrastructure planning. Infrastructures play a key role in the design of sustainable spaces. Supply and mobility infrastructures must be designed to be climate-neutral and resilient and, together with social infrastructures, form the foundation for balanced and socially equitable spatial development.

Wanted: Key topics & (new) work and transfer formats

Key topics: Which specific questions or tasks would you like to focus on and why? Where do you see current gaps in knowledge or a particular need for action?

Formats: Which working or transfer formats promise the greatest added value for your question or task and with a view to social impact? (e.g. a working group, transfer workshop, a digital format, events, publications, etc.)?

Independently of the mission calls, it is still possible to submit applications for new working formats (working groups, international working groups and ad hoc working groups), provided that these are compatible with the current research concept.

All key information on submitting an application can be found in the information sheet (PDF).

The ARL's submission and review process will be restructured from July 2025, the first opportunity to submit will be from July 1, 2025.