How should planners respond to the rapid spatial reorganisation of industry? An international online workshop hosted by AESOP IIT Delhi and UCL brought together emerging researchers and world-leading experts to explore the future of industrial planning, governance, sustainability and labour.
From 7–9 July 2026, the AESOP’s Young Academics Network, the School of Public Policy at IIT Delhi, and The Bartlett School of Planning, UCL successfully delivered a three-day international online workshop on "International Perspectives on Planning Industrial Spatial Configurations". The event brought together 19 PhD researchers, post-doctoral scholars, and early-career academics from India and across the globe.
International keynote speakers included Professor Tali Hatuka, whose work on urban futures and industrial urbanism has influenced debates on cities and technological change, Professor Tathagata Chatterji, who explored industrial transformation through the lens of informality and sustainable development, and Professor Mark Tewdwr-Jones (UCL Bartlett), internationally recognised for his contributions to spatial planning, governance, and digital futures.
A dedicated editors’ roundtable brought together representatives from Planning Theory & Practice, Built Environment, and Town Planning Review, providing participants with insights into publishing, scholarly debate, and academic careers. Representing the UCL–IIT Delhi partnership, Dr Amit Khandelwal and Dr Archana Trivedi joined the reflective final sessions and shared insights on how the relationship has developed, through sustained engagement, academic conversations and a shared commitment to addressing important challenges together.
Across three days, participants presented work-in-progress within four thematic areas: spatial planning and territorial strategy; governance and institutions; environment and equity; and labour geographies. Structured mentoring sessions provided detailed feedback from Professor Gavin Parker, Dr Urmila Jha-Thakur, Professor Meenu Tewari, Professor Utpal Sharma, and Dr John Ward.
The workshop strengthened India–Europe research collaboration, fostered new academic networks, and demonstrated the value of innovative online formats in supporting emerging planning researchers, particularly for international partnerships. The organisers extend their sincere thanks to all keynote speakers, editors, mentors, and participants for making the event such a stimulating and successful exchange of ideas.
Acknowledgements
This initiative emerged from AESOPs Global South & East Thematic Group. AESOPs Young Academics Network. It was enabled by the strategic partnership between IIT Delhi and UCL, and support of Prof Jacqui Glass Dean of the Bartlett (UCL’s faculty of the Built Environment), Prof Monica Lakhanpaul (Global Strategic Academic Advisor, India), University College London, Prof. Ashwini Agrawal (Dean of Research and Development, IIT Delhi).
The co-organisers were Dr Lucy Natarajan from Bartlett School of Planning (BSP, UCL) and Dr Surajit Chakravarty from the School of Public Policy (SoPP, IIT Delhi), who ran the event with enormous support from others in BSP, SoPP, and the Young Academics Network (AESOP YAN). We pay special thanks to Donato Casavola, Adahi Şahin, Adina-Iuliana Deacu, Dr Dimitrios Panayotopoulos-Tsiros, Aaron Davis, and Pratyoosh Madhavi.
