InPlaLabs Events and Outreach

Palermo Knowledge Exchange Workshop

The first transnational workshop of the InPlaLabs project partners was held in Palermo, Italy, hosted by the project partner Bond of Union, a social cooperative based in the city. The meeting marked an important milestone for the partnership, allowing all participating organisations to meet in person, exchange methodologies, and align their objectives towards a shared vision for the implementation of the project.

Bond of Union operates in the field of education and European cooperation, working at both local and international levels. The cooperative promotes participatory processes that foster social inclusion and active citizenship through the design and implementation of educational initiatives, training programmes, and collaborative projects. Its approach is grounded in the belief that learning and cooperation are key tools for empowering individuals and communities. Thanks to its experience and strong engagement with local stakeholders, Bond of Union provided an ideal setting for hosting this first transnational exchange.

The meeting lasted two days and included a combination of workshops, collaborative sessions, and local exploration activities. The agenda was designed to encourage mutual learning, facilitate the exchange of practices, and strengthen cooperation among partners.

Each organisation presented its experience, methodologies, and areas of expertise, enabling a rich and diverse dialogue among participants. Through interactive sessions and group discussions, the partners worked together to define a shared framework for the project, identifying common objectives, key priorities, and potential synergies among their respective activities.

An important component of the meeting was the engagement of local stakeholders. This took place through a networking event organised in collaboration with marememoriaviva, an eco-museum in Palermo that documents and communicates the history of the city’s northern coastline.

This activity provided an opportunity to connect the project’s objectives with local realities and to explore the role of cultural and community-based organisations in promoting education, sustainability, and social inclusion.

The event was attended by academics, professionals, practitioners, and university students, contributing to a multidisciplinary dialogue around the themes addressed by the project. The exchange of perspectives supported the co-development of a shared vision for the establishment of a multidisciplinary network that will facilitate future collaboration between the project consortium and local stakeholders.

The Palermo meeting marked a crucial step in building the foundations of the project, both in terms of internal cooperation among partners and external engagement with relevant stakeholders. The workshop demonstrated the consortium’s commitment to participatory approaches, knowledge exchange, and sustainable networking as key principles of its work.

The partners express their sincere appreciation to marememoriaviva and epyc_palermo (European Palermo Youth Centre) for their hospitality and active participation. Their contribution significantly enriched the meeting and strengthened the connection between the project and the local context of Palermo.

International Multiplier Event and Knowledge Co-Creation Workshop in Nicosia

November 2024 marked an important milestone in the development of the InPlaLabs project. During the second week of the month, project partners from Italy, Sweden, and Greece gathered in Nicosia, Cyprus, for the first International Multiplier Event and a series of Knowledge Co-Creation Workshops. The activities were hosted by the University of Cyprus, with the support of its research laboratory The Society and Urban Form (SURF), a multidisciplinary hub dedicated to studying how the built environment affects society and translating this knowledge into urban design and policy practice.

The first day of the gathering was dedicated to the 1st International Multiplier Event, organised by the University of Cyprus. The leading partner, the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA), opened the session with an introduction to the project’s aims and structure, followed by presentations from the partners commonspace (Athens) and Urban Calculator (Gothenburg).

commonspace highlighted the importance of participatory methods in urban planning and presented an open-source Participatory Toolkit developed for the InPlaLabs network. The toolkit offers practical instruments designed to engage diverse stakeholders in decision-making processes and to support inclusive planning approaches.

Urban Calculator presented their quantitative study methods and showcased the Urban Calculator software, an innovative design-support tool for students and practitioners. The software enables users to test different planning and design scenarios dynamically, analysing how variations in street layouts or spatial configurations affect centrality, accessibility, density, and proximity. Through intuitive interfaces and data-driven visualisations, the tool helps bridge the gap between analysis and design, enabling more informed and evidence-based decisions.

The following two days were devoted to the Knowledge Co-Creation Workshops, during which all partners collaborated on the design of the project’s minicourses for students and professionals. Each minicourse was conceived as a modular learning unit combining theoretical input, practical exercises, and digital tools aimed at strengthening interdisciplinary education in spatial planning and urban design.

The event in Nicosia represented a significant step forward for the InPlaLabs network, reinforcing collaboration among universities, research groups, and professional organisations. Through shared learning and co-creation, the partners contributed to the development of a framework for integrated planning education that connects spatial analysis, participatory methods, and design practice.

InPlaLabs Local Multiplier Event in Athens: Integrated Planning, Education, and Synergies for the Future of Urban Development

On February 14, 2025, the historic neighbourhood of Plaka in Athens hosted a successful and inspiring gathering dedicated to Integrated Spatial Planning in Higher Education. The event, organised by commonspace within the framework of the InPlaLabs project, brought together experts, academics, and professionals to discuss how education, research, and practice can converge to support more sustainable and inclusive planning approaches.

Held at the premises of SADAS-PEA of Attica, the meeting provided a vibrant environment for dialogue and reflection on the evolving role of spatial planning in shaping cities and regions. Participants explored how universities, public institutions, and professional networks can collaborate to strengthen interdisciplinary planning education and promote innovative urban strategies.

The event opened with a presentation by Yannis Paraskevopoulos (NTUA), who introduced the vision behind InPlaLabs and highlighted the important role of universities in fostering integrated planning frameworks. His presentation set the tone for a day focused on collaboration, critical thinking, and knowledge co-creation.

A panel discussion followed, moderated by Thanos Andritsos (NTUA, commonspace co-op), bringing together speakers from academia and professional practice who shared their perspectives on the future of spatial planning education and practice.

The panel included:

• Sophia Tsadari (NTUA, SEPOX, ECTP-CEU) – Architect and Urban Planner, Board Member of SEPOX, and Representative at ECTP-CEU
• Katerina Christoforaki (NTUA) – Architect and Lecturer at the NTUA School of Architecture
• Ioulia Leventopoulou (URBANA Group) – Architect and Member of the URBANA Group
• Pantelis Skagiannis (University of Thessaly, POLIS University, AESOP) – Emeritus Professor and AESOP Representative
• Rena Klampatsea (NTUA) – Associate Professor at the NTUA School of Architecture

The speakers addressed key topics such as the role of interdisciplinary education in spatial planning, collaborative approaches between academia and professional practice, and the importance of networks in fostering innovative planning solutions. Their exchanges highlighted the need to strengthen the connections between teaching, research, and real-world planning practice, ensuring that future planners are equipped to address complex territorial challenges.

The InPlaLabs event in Athens functioned as a space for dialogue and exchange, where participants shared experiences, methodologies, and visions for the future of integrated planning. Through open discussion and collaborative engagement, the gathering reinforced the importance of synergy as a driving force for progress in urban and regional planning.

Participants expressed a shared commitment to continuing collaboration within the InPlaLabs Network, exploring opportunities for joint initiatives, educational exchanges, and applied research. The meeting also strengthened the sense of a growing European community of planners and educators dedicated to integrated, participatory, and sustainable spatial development.

InPlaLabs in Gothenburg: Advancing Integrated Spatial Planning in Swedish Practice

In May 2025, Gothenburg, Sweden, hosted a significant gathering focused on Integrated Spatial Planning in Swedish practice, organised within the framework of the InPlaLabs project. The event brought together experts, academics, and planning professionals from six Swedish municipalities—Stockholm, Gothenburg, Uppsala, Eskilstuna, Östersund, and Norrköping—at Chalmers University of Technology and the Gothenburg City Planning Office. Over three days, participants engaged in lectures, discussions, and training sessions centred on the digitalisation of integrated spatial planning processes in Sweden. The event was organised by the Spatial Morphology Group (SMoG) and Urban Calculator AB.

The event opened with a presentation by Ioanna Stavroulaki (Chalmers University, SMoG, Urban Calculator AB), who introduced the vision behind InPlaLabs and emphasised the importance of evidence-based design in shaping integrated spatial planning practice. This was followed by a series of presentations focusing on digital urban form models as tools to strengthen planning practice. The six participating municipalities presented three pilot studies demonstrating how these digital tools can be used to analyse street centrality, accessibility, and density, with the aim of revitalising public life and improving urban quality.

Prominent speakers included Ann Legeby (KTH Stockholm), Professor of Applied Urban Design; Lars Marcus (Chalmers University, SMoG), Professor of Urban Design and leader of SMoG; Meta Berghauser Pont (Chalmers University, SMoG, Urban Calculator AB), Professor of Urban Morphology and co-founder of Urban Calculator AB; Ioanna Stavroulaki (Chalmers University, SMoG, Urban Calculator AB), Associate Professor in Urban Design and Planning; and Jorge Gil (Chalmers University, SMoG), Associate Professor and Head of the Division of Urban Design and Planning. Representatives from the Gothenburg City Planning Office, including Shraddha Kapri, Sara Nilsson, and Malin Klarqvist, also contributed to the discussions, providing perspectives grounded in real-world planning challenges.

Throughout the event, discussions highlighted several key themes. Participants explored new working methods enabled by the digitalisation of planning processes and discussed the importance of establishing robust professional standards in urban planning practice. Particular emphasis was placed on strengthening collaboration between research and practice, ensuring that academic knowledge informs planning processes while practical experiences contribute to advancing research.

The Gothenburg meeting demonstrated the potential of digital urban form models to support evidence-based planning and enhance decision-making processes within municipalities. By combining advanced analytical tools with participatory approaches, the pilot studies illustrated how digital technologies can strengthen planning outcomes, promote inclusivity, and guide sustainable urban development.

The event also reinforced the collaborative mission of InPlaLabs: building networks that connect research, practice, and professional communities across borders. Participants were encouraged to join the InPlaLabs Network in order to stay informed about future workshops, events, and opportunities for collaboration. Through its activities, the initiative continues to provide resources, tools, and knowledge that support the development of sustainable, resilient, and data-driven urban planning practices across Europe.

Urban Dialogues in Action: Multiplier Event and Knowledge Sharing Workshop in Athens

From 29 to 31 May 2025, a three-day event was held in Athens, Greece, combining a Knowledge Sharing Workshop (29–30 May) and the International Multiplier Event (31 May). Organised within the framework of the Transnational Network of Integrated Planning Labs (InPlaLabs) project, the event brought together students, professionals, researchers, and policy experts to explore the evolving landscape of Integrated Planning in contemporary urban contexts.

The activities were hosted by the Eteron Institute in Athens and included workshops, lectures, interactive sessions, and panel discussions addressing key themes such as urban mobility, sustainable development, and integrated urban governance. Participation was both high and diverse, with attendees representing the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA) and partner organisations, as well as institutions including the Greek Urban Planners Association, the General Secretariat of Spatial Planning and Urban Environment, and the Greek National Centre for Social Research. Practitioners and policy associates from the Cypriot associated partners — ALA Planning Partnership and the Nicosia Development Agency — also joined the event, reinforcing the transnational dimension of the collaboration.

The first day of the workshop (29 May) introduced the InPlaLabs project and the concept of Integrated Planning, highlighting its increasing relevance in addressing the challenges of urbanisation and environmental change. The morning session, titled “Analytical Planning-Support Tools for Integrated Urbanism-Mobility Planning,” was coordinated by NTUA and featured a lecture on participatory planning delivered by commonspace, a key project partner. Entitled “Participatory Planning and Design Methods: History, Theory, and Practice,” the lecture combined theoretical insights with practical examples and encouraged an engaging dialogue with participants.

In the afternoon, a hands-on practice session led by NTUA and commonspace invited participants to apply the methodologies discussed earlier in the day. Using GIS data, participants analysed different neighbourhoods of Athens, focusing on indicators such as urban activities, transport networks, green spaces, and built density. The exercise provided valuable insights into the city’s spatial structure and demonstrated the potential of analytical tools in supporting integrated urban decision-making.

The second day (30 May) continued with mini-course presentations delivered by Urban Calculator and the University of Cyprus (UCY). Urban Calculator introduced its innovative software designed to support urban planners and students in exploring and visualising complex urban systems. UCY presented the work of the Society and Urban Form Research Lab (SURF Lab), highlighting evidence-based design practices and interdisciplinary collaboration. A hands-on session allowed participants to test the Urban Calculator tool, which generated strong interest due to its potential for advancing analytical and participatory planning approaches.

The International Multiplier Event took place on 31 May and focused on the plurality of urban experiences and integrated planning approaches. The morning included a dynamic pitching session where participants presented short proposals on thematic areas such as housing, social and spatial inequalities, public space, gender-sensitive planning, and touristification. These presentations fostered a lively exchange of ideas and set the stage for the afternoon roundtable discussion titled “Pluralities of Integration: Beyond the Buzzword – From Pitching to Discussing.”

During the discussion, experts and participants explored key questions concerning the role of interdisciplinary education, the collaboration between academia and industry, and the importance of networks in fostering innovation. The event concluded with a shared sense of optimism and commitment to advancing collaborative and cross-sectoral approaches in urban planning.

By providing a platform for dialogue, experimentation, and knowledge exchange, the InPlaLabs Multiplier Event in Athens contributed significantly to strengthening the project’s network and advancing the European discourse on integrated urbanism.

InPlaLabs Roundtable on the Future of Integrated Planning in Cyprus

On 17 November, the InPlaLabs Roundtable on the Future of Integrated Planning in Cyprus brought together a diverse group of academics, practitioners, public authorities, and community partners to discuss key challenges and opportunities for the island’s spatial, environmental, and social development. The event created an open environment for dialogue, reflection, and knowledge exchange on the evolving role of integrated planning in Cyprus.

Moderated by Dr. Andreas Savvides, the roundtable featured contributions from a distinguished panel of speakers representing different professional and institutional perspectives. Evie Anayiotou, Senior Executive Engineer at the Public Works Department, shared insights into ongoing efforts to strengthen resilience and improve infrastructural planning across Cyprus. Konstantina Karakosta, President and Founder of the Ena Emeis NGO, highlighted the importance of social engagement and civic participation in shaping more inclusive urban futures.

The discussion was further enriched by Alkis Dikaios, President of the Cyprus Architects Association, who addressed the professional and regulatory challenges faced by architects and planners operating within rapidly evolving urban environments. Lora Nicolaou, Professor at the Department of Architecture at Frederick University, contributed an academic perspective, emphasising the importance of education, interdisciplinary collaboration, and evidence-based approaches in planning practice. Anna Caramondani, Director of ALA Planning, provided a practitioner’s perspective on the implementation of integrated planning frameworks in real-world contexts, drawing on professional experience across Cyprus.

Throughout the discussion, participants explored how integrated planning can contribute to enhancing climate resilience, improving mobility systems, and promoting social inclusivity within Cypriot cities and communities. Particular attention was given to the importance of collaboration between public institutions, academic researchers, private professionals, and community organisations in developing more effective and sustainable planning solutions. Integrated planning was discussed not only as a technical framework, but also as a broader approach that recognises the interconnections between environmental protection, spatial organisation, social equity, and economic development.

The engaged audience contributed actively to the dialogue through questions and reflections, demonstrating the growing interest in advancing integrated planning practices in Cyprus. The roundtable highlighted the importance of continuing this conversation and strengthening collaboration across sectors.

The event formed part of the ongoing efforts of the InPlaLabs Network to promote dialogue, knowledge exchange, and cooperation around integrated spatial planning. Participants were encouraged to stay connected with the network and follow upcoming activities and initiatives through the project’s communication channels and wiki platform.

InPlaLabs Presentation at the University of Palermo

On 17 December 2025, the InPlaLabs project was presented at the Department of Architecture of the University of Palermo (D’ARCH). The presentation took place within the course “Urban Design for Cities in Transition”, providing an opportunity to introduce students to the objectives and activities of the Transnational Network of Integrated Planning Labs.

The session focused on the broader vision of InPlaLabs: promoting transdisciplinary approaches to spatial planning that integrate urban design, mobility, environmental sustainability, and participatory governance. The presentation highlighted how contemporary urban challenges — including climate change, social inequalities, and the transformation of urban life after the pandemic — require new collaborative planning approaches that connect research, practice, and policy.

Particular attention was given to several key outputs of the project, including the Participatory Guide for Knowledge Exchange and the open learning resources developed within the InPlaLabs Network. These tools aim to support planners, students, researchers, and public authorities in applying participatory and evidence-based methods in real planning contexts.

Following the presentation, an open discussion took place with students and faculty members. The conversation explored the role of integrated planning in public administration and the importance of involving local actors and communities in urban decision-making processes. Participants reflected on how educational institutions can contribute to strengthening interdisciplinary planning practices and preparing future professionals to address complex urban challenges.

The event formed part of the broader knowledge exchange activities of the InPlaLabs Network, which seeks to connect universities, planning practitioners, and policy actors across Europe. By engaging students and academic communities, the initiative contributes to fostering a new generation of planners equipped with the tools and perspectives needed for more inclusive, resilient, and integrated urban development.

InPlaLabs Presentations at Public Events

Beyond its educational activities and collaborative workshops, the InPlaLabs Network contributes to international academic and professional debates on integrated spatial planning, urban governance, and transdisciplinary collaboration. Through scientific publications and conference presentations, the project shares its conceptual framework, governance model, and methodological tools with the wider planning and research community.

The Network’s work focuses on strengthening dialogue between academia, practitioners, and policy actors while advancing integrated approaches to planning that address contemporary urban challenges such as climate change, social equity, and sustainable mobility.

Conference Presentations

During 2025, the InPlaLabs project was presented at several international and national scientific conferences, contributing to discussions on planning innovation, integrated urban development, and transdisciplinary collaboration.

37th AESOP Congress – “Planning as a Transformative Action in an Age of Planetary Crisis” Istanbul, Türkiye | 7–11 July 2025 The project was presented to the international planning community of the Association of European Schools of Planning (AESOP), highlighting the InPlaLabs approach to integrated planning education and knowledge exchange.

25th International Conference on Computational Science and Its Applications (ICCSA 2025) July 2025 The presentation focused on governance innovation and the development of a transnational network supporting collaboration across research, practice, and policy in spatial planning.

City+ 2025 Conference, University of Oxford Oxford, United Kingdom | 29–30 September 2025 The InPlaLabs Network was presented at the School of Geography and the Environment, discussing the project’s structural pillars — the Charter, Virtual Knowledge Hub, and Participatory Guide — and the challenges of building integrated planning cultures.

9th International Conference on Urban e-Planning Virtual Conference | 5–7 May 2025 The project was presented to an international audience of researchers and practitioners working on digital tools and innovative methods in urban planning.

7th Panhellenic Conference on Urban Planning, Spatial Planning and Regional Development Volos, Greece | 25–28 September 2025 InPlaLabs contributed to national discussions on spatial planning education and interdisciplinary collaboration, presenting its approach to integrating disciplines, methods, and knowledge actors within planning practice.

Scientific Publication

The conceptual and governance foundations of the InPlaLabs Network have been presented in a peer-reviewed publication:

Paraskevopoulos, Y., et al. (2025). Governance Matters! Developing the Foundations for a Transnational Integrated Planning Network. Proceedings of the 26th International Conference on Computational Science and Its Applications (ICCSA 2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-96962-1_19

→ The paper examines international organisational models and proposes a Charter-based governance structure to support collaboration between academia, practitioners, and policy actors. It introduces Integrated Planning as a framework combining discipline-based, method-based, and role-based integration.