The Regional Futures Conference 2025 took place in London this month, bringing together around 250 participants from 35 countries. Over two days, participants engaged in 47 parallel sessions, two plenary lectures, and two major panel sessions, exploring themes ranging from industrial investment and regional inequality to sustainable development, digital infrastructure, global value chains (GVCs), regional governance, and migration.
The conference underlined the need for integrated, place-sensitive regional strategies that combine economic, social, environmental and governance dimensions. As panel speakers noted, narrow, sectoral approaches are unlikely to succeed in a world of overlapping crises (climate, inequality, digital disruption).
Collaboration across disciplines and borders seems more vital than ever. As the conference’s global participation testified, with 35 countries represented, regional futures will be shaped by interconnected transnational flows, not siloed national policies.
You can find photos of the event here
Recordings of the plenaries Photos and recordings of the plenaries are available via the conference page.
