Keynote Speakers

Jiří Blažek

TOPIC: The Role Of System-level Agency And Regional Governance Modes In Evolutionary Pathways Of Regional Industries

Jiří Blažek is the Head of Department of Social Geography and Regional Development at Faculty of Sciences, Charles University, Prague. He is author or co-author of five monographs and about 80 scientific papers on regional development theories, local and regional development and regional and innovation policy. His research centres on evolution of regional innovation systems and engagement of companies in global production networks. Over the recent years, he provided consultation services to number of regional, national and international organisations dealing with regional and innovation policy, ranging from regional innovation centres to DG REGIO and DG RESEARCH. Jiří served as a member of the National Management Board for Smart Specialisation in Czechia during its preparation for 2014-2020 period and was member of the Expert Group for RIS3 strategy for 2021-2027 period nominated by the Czech Ministry of Industry and Trade. 

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Keynote Speakers

Tiit Tammaru

TOPIC: How Widespread is Counter-urbanization Amidst Digital Transition and Challenges in Urban Housing Affordability?

Tiit Tammaru is a Professor of Urban and Population Geography and Head of the Chair of Human Geography at the Department of Geography, University of Tartu. He is the member of the Estonian Academy of Sciences. He has also worked a guest researcher at the Geography departments at the Delft University of Technology, University of Utah, University of Helsinki and Umeå University. Tammaru leads the development of longitudinal linked censuses and registers data for urban and regional studies in Estonia. He is theorizing the paradigmatic shift in spatial inequality studies from residential neighborhood approach to activity space-based approach. Together with colleagues from Delft and Tartu he is developing the concept of vicious circle of segregation that focusses on how social and ethnic inequality and segregation are produced and reproduced across multiple life domains: homes, workplaces, schools, leisure time activity sites. He is also interested in how global challenges and poly-crisis may impact migration and segregation processes in physical space. He seeks answers to pertinent questions, such as: Do digital transitions and decreasing housing affordability in large cities create new opportunities for rural areas? An example of such studies is the paper titled „Did the pandemic bring new features to counter-urbanisation? Evidence from Estonia“ recently published in the „Journal of Rural Studies“. His other recent works include edited books and journal special issues such as „Urban Socio-Economic Segregation and Income Inequality: A Global Perspective“ (Springer), „Spatial underpinnings of social inequalities: A vicious circles of segregation approach“ (Social Inclusion) and „Segregation and mobility: Understanding the nexus between inequality, segregation and sustainable urban mobility“ (Journal of Transport Geography).

Keynote Speakers

Maria Tsouri

TOPIC: Innovation Networks and Green Transition

Maria Tsouri is Associate Professor for Innovation and Regional Development at Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, Bergen, Norway. She has been postdoctoral researcher at TIK Centre for Technology, Innovation and Culture, University of Oslo and at Lund University. She holds a PhD from University of Trento, Italy, on Local Development and Global Dynamics. She was awarded the RSA Early Career grant for 2019. Maria has an interest in the relationships between geography, innovation, and sustainability. Her recent research focuses on the importance of spatial aspects of innovation for sustainability transitions; twin transition and jobs and skills; green and digital regional development; and knowledge and technology transfer in European regions. Empirically, her research focuses on quantitative methods, related diversification and social network analysis. Maria is territorial representative for RSA in Norway, reviewer of several academic journals, and member of the editorial board of the journal Review of Regional Research.