About the Congress

Cities are providing the physical environment for an increasing number of the world’s citizens. They are also becoming the place for a variety of virtual, networked digitally-based economic, political, and cultural activities. Economic globalisation permitted the deepening of intra trade, foreign direct investment and the division of labour between head offices and their subsidiaries abroad, thus effecting a greater interdependency between the developed nations and developing nations in the region.

The ERSA congress “Cities, regions and digital transformations: Opportunities, risks and challenges” will host a large variety of themes in spatial, regional, and urban economics, economic geography, and regional policy topics like local governance and institutions. The Congress has also the ambition to have a stronger interdisciplinary dimension featuring contributions from social sciences, engineering and big data.

With approximately 800 participants every year from all continents, the ERSA congresses have become the largest academic conferences in regional science worldwide. There is simply no better place to present your research results, network and/or exchange, find out about new developments in the field, and just to meet colleagues and friends.

We look forward to meeting you in Lyon.

Louafi Bouzouina and Dominique Mignot

Co-Chairs of the Local Organising Committee (LOC)

Photo: Handover of the ERSA flag to Lyon at the closing ceremony of the 58th ERSA Congress in Cork.

Join us in Lyon!

Another unique platform for ERSA Congress 2019.

Through this video of "Lyon from the sky" with breathtaking views from the sky, we will bring you to incredible places in Lyon! Discover all the charms of Lyon in less than 4 minutes: culture, leisure, attractive places ... It's in Lyon!

Video credit: Only Lyon fan page on Facebook

Follow ERSA2019 on

@ersa2019Lyon
#ersa2019Lyon
#LyonIwillbethere

@NewsERSA

Latest News

22.10.2019

After a huge success in Lyon, we are now heading to the ERSA2020 in Bolzano. Don't miss the chance to be part of the largest Academic Event in Regional Science and find out more details by visiting the Congress Website.

Follow the Congress on Social Media #ERSA2020

3.09.2019

Thank you to all participants for having contributed to this new success of the ERSA Congress. We also thank all sponsors and students for their very much appreciated support.

See photos of the Congress here

21.08.2019

More than 900 participants from worldwide will attend the congress. Discover our programme with almost 300 sessions available!

09.07.2019
The winner of the ERSA Prize in Regional Science 2019 is

Philip McCann

Philip McCann will receive the Prize during the Closing Ceremony of the Congress, and will be invited to give a Keynote Speech

Preliminary Programme is out! more

20.05.2019
Registration is now OPEN! see here for more info.

27.03.2019
Notification of acceptance and registration opens! New date.

The LOC has postponed the outcome of the submissions as well as the start of the registration to April 2nd. Thank you for your patience.

01.03.2019
Extended deadline to Friday, March 8th!

Call for Abstracts (and) Papers has been extended until March 8. Don't delay and submit your abstract now! More details.

05.02.2019
The 1st ERSA-EOC meeting was held at the Congress Venue in Lyon.

Last saturday, first 2019 EOC meeting of ERSA took place at the venue of the Annual Congress of this year. See further details and the agenda here.

28.01.2019
The keynote speakers are revealed!

Find out further details of our keynote speakers and sessions here.

See here for our past news.