REAL CORP 2026 brings top urban planners to Vienna

2026-03-19 - 09:00

Shafaq News- Erbil REAL CORP 2026, one of the leading global forums on urban planning, will convene more than 250 participants from 35 countries in Vienna from March 22 to 25 for its 31st edition. Hosted at the historic Otto Wagner complex, the conference features around 180 scientific contributions, including 116 peer-reviewed papers selected for publication and presentation. At the center of this year’s agenda is whether technology, particularly artificial intelligence, can reshape cities and planning systems, while organizers stress that the priority remains building sustainable, resilient, and livable urban environments, not turning cities into testing platforms. Backed by the City of Vienna, the event also highlights a strong Kurdistan presence, led by Vision Education, an Erbil-based academic institution active across Iraq. In a keynote message included in the program, Idris Nechirvan Barzani, President of Vision Education, said the institution’s support reflects its commitment to expanding international cooperation and knowledge exchange in urban planning and regional development. He emphasized the need to connect academic research with real-world application to address evolving urban challenges. Barzani explained that Vision Education works to advance education and scientific research in the Kurdistan Region, enabling institutions and individuals to drive meaningful change. He underscored that education remains a central pillar of societal development and adaptability. He further noted that challenges such as sustainable urban growth, climate change, and technological transformation demand integrated approaches that align education, public policy, and applied practice, calling for long-term strategies rooted in knowledge and international collaboration. Global partnerships in education and planning can help shape more resilient, sustainable, and intelligent cities, expressing pride in supporting the conference, Barzani concluded. As part of the program, Vision Education CEO Dr. Dana Molod will deliver a keynote on March 23 titled “Climate Change Impacts on Urban Planning and Development in Iraq: Challenges and Adaptation Strategies,” and will join a panel on the future of education in Europe on March 24. The program also notes that Molod serves as Director of the Austrian Community Center and Head of Environmental Studies at Kurdistan University–Hewler. Beyond keynote contributions, the conference includes research from Kurdistan University–Hewler, Nawroz University, Soran University, and the Duhok Environment Directorate. Among the featured studies are papers on integrating water branches as heritage into land-use planning in Zakho, annual air quality monitoring in Duhok, and research on infrastructure resilience in the Kurdistan Region, rehabilitation of Charsteen Cave, and urban growth trends in Duhok between 2010 and 2025. Spanning three days, the program combines keynotes, panel discussions, and research sessions addressing urban governance, sustainable infrastructure, affordable housing, future education, quality of life, small and medium cities, and rural-urban transformation, alongside side events including guided tours, an official reception, and a closing session on March 25. REAL CORP 2026 positions itself as a global platform linking academic research with practical implementation in urban and regional planning, while Iraqi and Kurdistan participation introduces climate, education, and urban transformation challenges into international discussions on the cities of the future. This is a breaking story...