The UR-DATA project team actively participated in the XXX International Scientific Conference “Regional Development and Demographic Flows of South-Eastern European Countries”, held on June 20, 2025, at the Faculty of Economics, University of Niš (FEUN).
This activity represents a concrete step in the project’s objective to internationalize and strengthen the scientific impact of this long-standing academic event. The conference successfully attracted academics, doctoral candidates, and institutional stakeholders from Serbia and abroad. It strengthened the project’s ties with the scientific community, reinforced its commitment to open knowledge sharing, and amplified its role in shaping smart and sustainable regional policies.
A major highlight of the conference was the keynote lecture delivered by Prof. Beniamino Murgante from the University of Basilicata, Italy, titled: “From Climate Crisis to Urban Sustainability: The 15-Minute City”. Prof. Murgante’s presentation explored innovative spatial planning models and the practical application of compact, accessible urban forms to tackle climate-related and social sustainability issues in cities across Europe and beyond. His keynote attracted significant attention from both academic and policy-oriented audiences.
Members of the UR-DATA team actively contributed to the conference by presenting research papers across several thematic sessions. Topics included data-informed regional development strategies, urban resilience and spatial connectivity, migration flows and demographic shifts in Southeastern Europe.
This year’s conference was the last one planned during the implementation period of the UR-DATA project. By integrating high-level international expertise and encouraging engagement from emerging scholars, the UR-DATA project continues to foster a more open, evidence-based, and connected research environment—contributing to the transformation of the conference into a regionally recognized hub for discussion on sustainable urban and regional development.
