Welcome

39th ERSA Summer School

The European Regional Science Association, in collaboration with the University of Beira Interior (UBI), the NECE – Research Centre for Business Sciences, and the Associação Portuguesa para o Desenvolvimento Regional (APDR), is pleased to announce the organisation of the 39th ERSA Summer School, which will be held at the University of Beira Interior, Covilhã, Portugal, from 21 June to 26 June 2026. This 39th edition will feature the theme

Circular Cities, Clusters, Ecosystems and Regions:
Public Policies for Sustainable Regional Development

Programme
The ERSA Summer School 2026 aims to gather young researchers who are working both conceptually and empirically on circular cities, clusters, ecosystems, and regions oriented to sustainable regional development, in various spatial contexts, and who are targeted to provide insightful implications for policy makers. The empirical work can be based on mixed research approaches, using both quantitative and qualitative methods.

Lecturers

**Roberta Capello**
Politecnico di Milano
Italy

**Rui Baptista**
Instituto Superior Técnico, University of Lisbon
Portugal

**Rosella Nicolini**
Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
Spain

**Christina Theodoraki**
Aix-Marseille University
France

**Michael Fritsch**
Friedrich Schiller University Jena
Germany

Goal

The ERSA Summer School 2026 aims to gather young researchers who are working both conceptually and empirically on circular cities, clusters, ecosystems, and regions oriented to sustainable regional development, in various spatial contexts, and who are targeted to provide insightful implications for policymakers. The empirical work can be based on mixed research approaches, using both quantitative and qualitative methods.

The participants will have an opportunity to present and discuss their own research with experienced scholars and researchers in the field. They will acquire new knowledge to advance their careers as researchers. They will have an opportunity to expand their professional network on an international basis.

Key Dates

Application - Terms and Conditions

Selection of participants

The ERSA Summer School 2026 will aim to gather Ph.D. students (especially the ones who are in the second half of their studies), post-doctoral students, and young researchers with less than 10 years’ experience from any research field interested in developing skills and learning new methods on the topics of Circular Cities, Clusters, Ecosystems, Regions and Public Policies for Sustainable Regional Development.

The Local Organizing Committee (LOC), primarily according to the below-mentioned criteria, will select participants. In addition to these criteria, the organizers will look for a mix of international participants. The number of participants is limited to 25.

Application submission

Ph.D. students and young researchers who want to participate in the 2026 Summer School should submit their application form via the online ERSA Application portal, which includes (in PDF format):

• A one-page summary of the research project students’ aims at presenting during the Summer School.

• A one-page Motivation letter.

• A one-page CV of the applicant.

After notification of acceptance and receipt of registration payment, the participants will be asked to upload an updated version of their intended presentation during the summer school.

Application Portal Link

Registration

After notification of acceptance, the accepted applicants must register and pay the participation fee before the registration & payment deadline. The registration link will be sent by mail to all successful applicants.

The fee

Participation fee: €250

The fee includes:

Accommodation for 5 nights - breakfast included
Lunches and coffee breaks throughout the Summer School
Welcome reception, dinner, closing reception, and social events
Social activities

Please note:

Participants must cover their own travel expenses to/from the Summer School venue.

Organisers

Local Organising Committee

Prof. Dr. João Carlos Correia Leitão

University of Beira Interior, Portugal

President of Portuguese Section (APDR)

Chair of the LOC

Practical Information

Venue

The 39th ERSA Summer School will be held at the University of Beira Interior (UBI), located in the City of Covilhã, which is a member of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) since 2021.

Location of the classes

UBIMedical incubator
Phone +351 275 241 270

Estrada Municipal, 506 - 6200-284 Covilhã - Portugal

(See on google maps)

Accomodation

Accommodation at Micampus residencias is covered from June 21 to June 26.

UBImedical «--» Micampus residências - https://maps.app.goo.gl/V6CZ32WvnNhkhS7d6

Travel information

By Car

The city of Covilhã is easily accessible from different parts of the country via a network of highways, with an average travel time of approximately 2 to 3 hours.

Coming from the North, you should follow the A1 towards Lisbon, exiting onto the A25 towards Guarda, and finally onto the A23 to Covilhã.

If you are coming from the South, you should follow the A1 towards the North and then exit onto the A23 towards Covilhã.

If you are in the city center, you can use the IP3 highway to reach the city of Viseu, then exit onto the A25 towards Guarda and finally onto the A23 to Covilhã.

In all cases you should choose the Covilhã Sul exit, towards the Hospital.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/zLCPWKdcyA17YqUh6

By Bus

• For those arriving in Porto by plane and wanting to take the bus:

Airport -> Metro: Line E (Airport-Estádio do Dragão) -> Bolhão Station -> Campanhã Intermodal Terminal – Rua da Bonjóia 691. 4300-084 Porto

https://maps.app.goo.gl/P7PaQJ1GGaswNE619

• For those arriving in Lisbon by plane and wanting to take the bus:

Airport -> Metro: Red Line (Airport - Oriente) -> Gare do Oriente Bus Terminal

https://maps.app.goo.gl/Awua9KFUYWtq94o87

There are various departure times to reach Covilhã from different parts of the country. You can find this information on the Rede de Expressos or Flixbus websites.