Institute for Regional Development and Structural Planning

The IRS researches the social, economic and spatial principles governing urban and regional development.

Through its research projects the institute draws up objectives and strategies for the development and stabilisation of European sub regions. Our interdisciplinary basic research is practice-oriented and focuses on generating knowledge in four fields:

• Regionalisation strategies for economic spaces
  
• Regional institutional change to safeguard collective goods
  
• Knowledge milieus and settlement structures
  
• Regeneration in shrinking towns.

The research area presently encompasses the new federal Länder, the Federal republic of Germany as a whole, eastern central Europe and EU countries.

The IRS co-operates at national and international level with universities, technical colleges and non-university research institutes. There are co-operation agreements with The Brandenburg Technical University Cottbus, Potsdam University. The IRS currently employs a staff of 65. 14 out of the 40 scientists are currently working on externally funded projects.

Scientific Collections

The IRS has compiled its own archive of papers and planning documents relating to the history of architecture and urban planning in the GDR. The archive is founded on the records of the former GDR’s Institute for Urban Planning and Architecture. This material continues to be stored, catalogued and occasionally published by the institute for scientific purposes.

Legal Structure and Funding

The IRS is a registered association. It is academically independent and is member of the extra-university research bodies of the Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Scientific Association (WGL). It receives funding from both the federal government and the state of Brandenburg on the basis of a general agreement on promoting research.

Institute for Regional Development and Structural Planning
Flakenstraße 28-31
15537 Erkner
Tel: +49 (0)3362 / 793 - 0
Fax: +49 (0)3362 / 793 - 111
E-Mail: regional@irs-net.de

Press releases

Further Information: www.irs-net.de