Economic geography and sustainable development 

13–15 June 2026, Gothenburg, Sweden

We hereby invite PhD students and recent graduates to participate in the upcoming Young Economic Geographers Network (YEGN) Workshop on Economic Geography and Sustainable Development, to be held at the School of Business, Economics and Law at the University of Gothenburg on 13–15 June 2026. The YEGN looks forward to welcoming 20 international PhD students.

This year’s workshop is a special one:

10 years YEGN: The YEGN celebrates it’s 10th year anniversary. Come and celebrate with us!

YEGN goes RSA: The workshop will be held in conjunction with the Regional Studies Association’s Annual Conference. The participants are encouraged to use the YEGN as a starting point for this year’s conference visit to connect with peers, exchange in a supportive environment, and start the conference together.

The workshop combines informal outdoor networking activities with a more traditional workshop format to foster academic exchange, career reflection, and community building among early-career scholars. We take the 10th anniversary of the YEGN as an occasion to reflect on the past and the future, and aim to prepare for the RSA conference by offering a network for PhD students.

Abstract Submission and Deadline

The workshop aims to bring together young scholars in Economic Geography and related fields and welcomes contributions exploring Economic Geography and sustainable development.

Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:  

  • Green transition and decarbonization 
  • Climate change adaptation and resilience of cities and regions 
  • Sustainable and just urban and regional development 
  • Post-growth perspectives in Economic Geography 

Applicants are encouraged to submit an abstract of 350–500 words (including key references) by 1 March 2026 to Ellena (ellena.brandner@unibe.ch). Submissions should be sent in PDF or Word format, using standard academic formatting (e.g., 12-point font, 1.5 spacing) to the organizing team. Participants will be selected based on the quality and relevance of their abstract and their early career stage. The workshop provides an excellent platform for early-career researchers to share ideas, receive constructive feedback, and engage with peers in a collaborative environment. Applicants will be informed of the outcome by mid-March. We look forward to your submissions!

If you can’t wait to find out more about the network or our next workshop location, visit our YEGN Website with insides on the last workshops and check out the University of Gothenburg or Regional Studies Associations Annual Conference.

Motivation

The YEGN workshop emerged in 2016 through the collaborative effort of PhD students from the University of Bern and Umeå University. Its primary objective is to establish a platform where emerging scholars in economic geography and related fields from various countries could share and discuss their research and ideas among peers. Our focus centers explicitly on bringing together students at different stages of their academic journey and from diverse national backgrounds to facilitate meaningful exchanges and maximize diverse experiences. Additionally, our aim is to build a lasting network among workshop participants that extends beyond the event. Recognizing the significance of connections and interactions for young researchers, especially the challenges in establishing them, we extend invitations not only to academics but also to new PhDs collaborating with researchers at different institutions. The three main aims of the YEGN and its related workshops are:

1) Allowing the participants to present, discuss, and get extensive feedback on their ongoing work, in a forgiving environment with only PhD students.

2) Facilitating networking among young economic geographers from different countries.

3) Discussing concepts and cutting-edge research trends regarding Economic Geography with peers.

Program

We will kick off in the afternoon of 13th June with a guided tour through the city, followed by a welcoming dinner in the evening to get to know each other and the place where we will spend the next few days. The 14th and 15th of June will be dedicated to presentations and discussions, accompanied by an exchange on early career development and reflections on the past and future of the YEGN. Community activities are planned in the evening. On the 15th of June, we will end the YEGN and kick off the RSA by joining the welcome reception. All participants are expected to attend all days of the workshop to provide feedback to their peers.

A more detailed program follows soon.

Attendance Costs

The workshop is funded by the University of Gothenburg, the University of Bern and the Regional Studies Association. Accomodation, breakfast, lunch and coffee breaks during the workshop from 13-15 June 2026 will be provided by the organisers. Participants are expected to cover their own travel costs. We thereby aim to make the workshop as inclusive as possible for PhD students and encourage early application to the wide range of external opportunities for small travel grants (e.g., RSA, YSI, RGS).

Organizing Committee

If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact us. 

Purushottam Adhikari: adhikari.purushottam@gu.se  
Ellena Brandner: ellena.brandner@unibe.ch  
Patrick Mukanza: mukanza.patrick@gu.se