LATI participated in the launch of Benelux – RISE, a new initiative aimed at strengthening cooperation between researchers and experts in the fields of spatial planning and territorial development.
The BENELUX+ network includes, in addition to the three BENELUX countries—Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg—the Hauts-de-France Region, the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia, and the Greater Region as a whole. RISE stands for Research, Integration, Strengths & Expertise network.
Launched on May 22, 2026 at the General Secretariat of the Benelux Union in Brussels, this new collaboration took the form of an exploratory workshop. On this occasion, around fifteen presentations were delivered by various researchers from a dozen universities or organizations working in cross-border cooperation. Most participants came from Flanders and the Netherlands, while three were representatives of UniGR-CBS.
Tom Becker, Raphael Corrêa, and Chris Reiter from the University of Luxembourg showed that cross-border comparison of land-use data remains complex. Despite the growing availability of data, differences in definitions and planning systems make it difficult to develop common indicators and reveal divergences in governance and planning cultures.
Jean-Marc Lambotte and Sophie Vandionant, from the University of Liège and members of the Lepur research centre, explored ways to limit urban sprawl in the Benelux+ area by strengthening the role of railway corridors in territorial organisation. Transport-oriented approaches—Transit-Oriented Development (TOD)—aim to better integrate housing, work, and mobility around rail corridors.
Loth Van der Auwermeulen, a postdoctoral legal researcher at Hasselt University and the main organiser of this event, intends to continue building this network. More specifically, she and other key figures behind the initiative, including Jan Wouters, Professor of International Law at KU Leuven, are preparing a five-year funding application to organise activities aimed at strengthening cross-border cooperation in academic research related to the challenges of the Benelux+ area.
