The Nobel X // PhD X 2025 Conference, hosted by OSLOMET brought together international scholars, doctoral researchers, and policy experts to exchange ideas on the future of cities, sustainability, and regenerative development. Held on 11–12 December 2025, the event featured contributions from prominent academics and thought leaders such as Prof. Peter Nijkamp (Erasmus University Rotterdam), alongside experts from Lund University, Uppsala University, TU Wien, University of Pisa, University of Basilicata, and other European institutions. The two-day programme combined PhD-focused sessions with high-level scientific discussions addressing contemporary urban, environmental, and socio-economic challenges.
The conference programme covered a wide range of topics, including urban justice, biodiversity, land use, housing and urban economics, mobility and well-being, nature-based solutions, GeoAI, and satellite image analysis. Through keynote lectures, research presentations, and panel discussions, participants explored how interdisciplinary research and data-driven approaches can support more inclusive, resilient, and regenerative urban systems.
As part of the Nobel X // PhD X scientific programme, Sonja Jovanović and Marija Džunić from the Faculty of Economics, University of Niš, members of the CROSS-REIS project team, presented and discussed ongoing CROSS-REIS research on urban biodiversity in the city of Niš. Their presentation entitled “Assessing Biodiversity Contributions in Niš and Other European Cities” highlighted comparative and data-driven approaches to assessing biodiversity contributions in urban environments, emphasizing the role of green infrastructure and ecosystem services in strengthening ecological resilience and informing sustainable urban planning.
In addition, Ogerta Gjiknuri (CO-PLAN & POLIS University, Albania), also a member of the CROSS-REIS consortium, contributed to the scientific discussions through her presentation on urban finance and temporal dynamics, further strengthening the project’s interdisciplinary perspective and visibility at the conference.
The contributions of CROSS-REIS researchers aligned closely with the conference’s regenerative focus, demonstrating how biodiversity, spatial analytics, and socio-economic insights can jointly support the transition toward regenerative cities. The discussions that followed opened opportunities for future academic collaboration and joint research initiatives with international partners.