The conference “EU Regional Development Dialogues: From Policy to Research” was held in Split on 28 and 29 September 2026. The event was organised by ERSA Croatia, the Faculty of Economics at the University of Split, and the Institute for Development and International Relations (IRMO), in partnership with the European Commission Representation in Croatia. The conference was supported by the Split Technology Park, the City of Split, the Ministry of Regional Development and EU Funds, and the Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia.
The conference brought together policymakers, regional development practitioners, representatives of public institutions and agencies, and researchers. The first day focused on dialogue between policymakers, practitioners and researchers, while the second, research-focused day was held as part of the RSAI Nurturing New Talent programme.
The opening session featured addresses by ERSA Croatia President Dr Vinko Muštra, representatives of the European Commission, and other institutional representatives. The opening panel, dedicated to regional development and regional policies in times of uncertainty, brought together Prof. Andrés Rodríguez-Pose (London School of Economics), Andrea Conte (JRC), Aida Liha Matejiček (DG REGIO), and Francesco Molica (EURADA).
Dr Jakša Puljiz, Director of IRMO, took part in the roundtable discussion “The Future of Cohesion Policy amid Current and Emerging Territorial Challenges.” The discussion focused on the EU’s new Multiannual Financial Framework, its potential implications for the future of cohesion policy, and what these developments could mean for Croatia.
The second day featured presentations on formulating research questions and methodological approaches in regional science. This was followed by a discussion with editors of leading academic journals on current trends and challenges in publishing regional research. As part of the Research Incubator Workshop, young researchers and ERSA members presented their work and received feedback from leading scholars.
IRMO research assistant Hrvoje Hrnkaš presented his research paper “Do EU Investment Grants Create High-Quality Jobs, and Where? Regional Evidence from Croatia.” The study examines the effects of EU investment grants on job quality in Croatian firms, with a particular focus on regional differences in these effects. The paper was discussed by Özge Öner.
The conference received financial support from IRMO through the EUROIMPACT project.
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