ERSA Croatia activities 2024-2025

During the period from September 2024 to September 2025, the Croatian Section of ERSA carried out a series of visible and significant activities in the fields of regional science, policy, and practice. The work of its members was focused on the organization and implementation of scientific and professional events, participation in international conferences, dissemination of knowledge through publications, and active involvement in projects and initiatives of importance for local and regional development.

It is particularly important to highlight the professional conference “Regional Development in Times of Uncertainty – A Future Defined by Compromises”, held on September 19, 2025, at the Split Technology Park, organized by the Croatian Section of ERSA and co-organized by the Faculty of Economics, Business and Tourism, University of Split (EFST), and the Institute for Development and International Relations (IRMO).

The conference was held in partnership with the Representation of the European Commission in Croatia, with the support of the Ministry of Regional Development and EU Funds and the Split Technology Park, and brought together more than 50 participants from academia and regional development policy institutions at the local, regional, national, and EU levels.

The focus of the conference was on the future of cohesion policy and regional development in the new geopolitical and security context, with particular emphasis on the proposal for the EU Multiannual Financial Framework for the period 2028–2034. The program included keynote presentations by prominent domestic and international experts, including Prof. Andrés Rodríguez-Pose (LSE), as well as three thematic panel discussions dedicated to cohesion, regional inequalities, innovation, and cooperation.

In addition, members of the Association participated in the annual ERSA Congress in Athens (2025), continued publishing the Regio-news newsletter, actively took part in numerous development projects, and regularly informed network members about relevant scientific and professional events, publications, and educational opportunities.

In the upcoming period, the Croatian Section of ERSA plans to further strengthen its dissemination activities, including enhancing the visibility of the Association’s work and organizing new scientific and professional events.