Dear colleagues in regional science,

Welcome to the Catalan Association of Regional Science. I’d like to take this opportunity to reach out and introduce the beginning of a new stage for us all.

We are living in extraordinary times. The current geopolitical context, global economic transformations, and the multiple crises we are facing — environmental, social, and technological— have placed territorial analysis at the center of academic and policy debates. In this setting, regional science emerges as a key discipline for understanding and addressing the major challenges of our time. Knowledge of territory, economic and social dynamics, and the interplay between metropolitan and rural areas is more relevant than ever.

In addition, the rapid emergence of artificial intelligence, as well as critical issues like sustainability, demand a regional perspective — one that adds nuance, context, and territorial articulation. As a scientific community, we must respond with both critical and forward-looking analysis to the transformations taking place around us.

Within this context, we also have a major opportunity ahead: in 2026, the Catalan Association will host the L International Conference on Regional Science in Barcelona. This milestone event not only marks a key moment in the history of our discipline, but also offers a unique opportunity for the members of the Catalan section to take an active role, contribute, and help shape a high-level scientific gathering.

On behalf of the Board of Directors and in my own name, I welcome you to the Catalan Association of Regional Science. We are entering a new stage filled with challenges and inspiration, with the organization of the congress as an immediate goal and the broader ambition of contributing to regional science in these turbulent times.

Barcelona, June 18, 2025  
President of the ACCR