RSA Annual Conference 2026

From 15 to 18 June, the RSA Annual Conference titled “Regions as Arenas in a Changing World” took place in Gothenburg, Sweden. The TRABBI research group attended the conference and presented its current research.

The 2026 Annual Conference of the Regional Studies Association was held in cooperation with the School of Business, Economics and Law at the University of Gothenburg. It brought together academics, policy-makers, and researchers to exchange current insights and perspectives in the fields of regional studies, economic development, policy, and planning. With participants from around 55 countries, the conference brought together both established experts and early-career researchers in Gothenburg. The programme featured more than 700 presentations, keynotes, as well as numerous workshops and networking formats. It was complemented by a diverse social programme, including a conference dinner, reception, and field trips.

Sebastian Losacker, Moritz Schütz, Tim Becker, and Linda Lütkes presented their current research in various sessions. Sebastian Losacker also served as chair of the session “Sustainability, Innovation, and Regional Development”.

Presentations: 

Sebastian Losacker: Regulation and Innovation: Do Cap-and-trade Policies Spur Green Trademarking in Regions?

Moritz Schütz: Forgotten and Left-Behind? Media Sentiment and Regional Representation in Geocoded German News

Tim Becker: Green Windows of Opportunity and Uneven Regional Path Development: The Case of Fujian’s Bamboo Construction Industry

Linda Lütkes: Conceptualizing Challenge-oriented Regional Innovation Systems in the Global South: Lessons from Bangalore's Construction Sector