We are thrilled to announce several key conferences sessions in 2025 organised by IN SITU partners to contribute to discussions on cooperation, innovation, and rural development. These events will explore how cultural and creative industries are shaping resilient, sustainable, and inclusive futures, particularly for non-urban areas.
Helsinki (Finland): ICA CCR Europe Conference
Key dates
Conference Dates: June 11-13, 2025
Abstract Submission Deadline: January 31, 2025
The International Cooperative Alliance Committee on Cooperative Research Europe (ICA CCR) will host its conference in Helsinki under the theme “Cooperative Identity – Who We Are as a Movement, a Form of Organization, and as Cooperators?”
The conference encourages both traditional and contemporary perspectives on cooperatives and economic cooperation, inviting scholars to explore innovative approaches to studying cooperatives and their role in society.
*Conference details: ICA CCR Europe 2025 Conference
IN SITU Session: “The Contributions of Cooperatives to Innovation and Competitiveness in the Cultural and Creative Industries of Non-Urban Areas”
This session will examine the role of cooperatives within the cultural and creative industries (CCIs) of non-urban regions, focusing on their contribution to innovation, collaboration, and competitiveness. Discussions will also address how public policies can further strengthen these initiatives.
*Session details: Streams ICA CCR 2025 Conference
Riga (Latvia): ESRS Conference
Key dates
Conference Date: July 7-11, 2025
Abstract Submission Deadline: February 14, 2025
The European Society for Rural Sociology (ESRS) will convene in Riga with the theme “Navigating Rural Transitions: Exploring Liveable Futures.”
This conference will explore the challenges and opportunities of rural life, focusing on creating just, sustainable, and resilient futures. Key topics will include social mobilization, local democracy, rural commons, and the intersection of rural development with migration, technology, and care.
*Conference details: ESRS 2025 Conference
IN SITU Working Group: “Can Rural be the New Creative Centre? Place-based Innovation and the Transformative Power of Cultural and Creative Agents in Rural Areas”
This session will delve into how cultural and creative agents in rural areas can drive innovation, competitiveness, and sustainability. It aims to facilitate networking, knowledge exchange, and potential future collaborations for rural-based creative industries.
*Working Group details: ESRS 2025 Working Groups
Athens (Greece): ERSA Congress
Key dates
Congress Dates: August 26-29, 2025
Abstract Submission Deadline: February 25, 2025
The European Regional Science Association (ERSA) Congress in Athens will address the theme “Regional Science in Turbulent Times: In Search of a Resilient, Sustainable, and Inclusive Future.”
This congress will focus on contemporary regional challenges, including the impacts of economic, social, and environmental crises. It will explore how regional science can promote resilience, inclusivity, and sustainable development in a rapidly changing world.
*Congress details: ERSA 2025 Congress
IN SITU Special Session: “Place-based Innovation of Cultural and Creative Industries in Non-urban and Peripheral Areas: What Roles for Actors and Policies?”
This session will explore the role of cultural and creative industries (CCIs) in rural and peripheral areas, focusing on social and organizational innovations, the impact of CCIs on local development, and the role of public policies in supporting these industries.
*Session details: ERSA 2025 Special Sessions
Join Us in 2025!
We look forward to engaging with scholars, practitioners, and policymakers at these exciting conferences. Mark your calendars and contribute to the global conversation on building resilient, sustainable, innovative, and inclusive futures!
About IN SITU
The IN SITU project, funded by the Horizon Europe programme, aims to enhance innovation capacities within cultural and creative sectors in non-urban areas. By fostering place-based innovation, it seeks to promote sustainability, competitiveness, and equitable development for the communities it serves.
For further details, contact:
Nancy Duxbury – IN SITU Project Coordinator
Centre for Social Studies (CES) at the University of Coimbra, Portugal
Email: in-situ@ces.uc.pt
Tel: +351 239 855 570
Web: https://insituculture.eu
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