UIC has launched a new research institute: JURECA. The Just and Resilient Carbon-Neutral Places Research Institute (JURECA) was established to promote more resilient, sustainable and equitable cities and regions in the face of climate change. With the addition of JURECA, the University now has eight institutes dedicated to interdisciplinary research.
The institute is headed by Dr Lorenzo Chelleri, who is ranked among the top 2 per cent of the world’s most influential scientists according to the prestigious Stanford University ranking. An expert in climate urbanism, Chelleri presented the institute’s goals during the Resilient Cities ‘26 conference, held at Ca l’Alier in Barcelona, which brought together researchers, academics and public-sector representatives.
The institute’s work focuses on building resilience to the impacts of climate change, driving the transition towards carbon neutrality and promoting greater justice in the way space is used and distributed. Its aim is to turn scientific knowledge into practical tools that help cities adapt to climate change and transform themselves without creating new inequalities.
The research centre brings together scholars from different disciplines at UIC and other universities. It also works closely with public administrations, communities and other stakeholders at national and international levels, ensuring that research findings translate into practical solutions for real-world challenges. The institute currently comprises eight permanent lecturers and researchers, around 10 collaborating lecturers from different UIC departments, a further 10 external experts from local and international universities, and more than 50 international institutional partners, including the Resilient Cities Network (RCN), The Nature of Cities (TNOC) and universities such as the University of Cambridge and TU Delft.
As Chelleri explained, “we are surrounded by urban agendas and climate plans that advocate a just, resilient and sustainable future but, when it comes to implementation, they rarely acknowledge the synergies needed between these three concepts”. JURECA was therefore created to “explore the relationships between justice, resilience and carbon neutrality, developing and promoting new approaches and tools to address urban climate challenges while avoiding green gentrification and maladaptation”.
According to Chelleri, the main climate challenges facing cities include recognising that “climate impacts cannot be addressed in isolation” and acknowledging “the need to change established socio-economic habits”. “Learning to live with a different climate means rethinking and embracing lifestyles that are better suited to a much hotter, drier future, leaving behind some of the habits that contributed to global warming,” he said.
During the conference, Chelleri introduced the concept of regenerative resilience, an idea that is receiving growing attention in academic research. “Academic attention is shifting away from sustainability alone and towards regeneration, ensuring that cities and architecture have a positive impact,” he explained. The challenge for universities, he added, is “to steer resilience towards this more regenerative approach”.
Research areas
JURECA’s main areas of work focus on urban resilience and climate adaptation, urban planning and design to create more sustainable and resilient environments and the promotion of healthy cities and the wellbeing of both people and the planet.
Its activities are carried out through national and European research projects, as well as initiatives that allow new models, tools and technologies to be tested and put into practice in collaboration with cities and communities.
Current projects
JURECA is currently involved in three projects. The first, Twinverse, is a Horizon Europe project that uses artificial intelligence to support climate neutrality in urban environments. The second, CORRAL, also funded through Horizon Europe, focuses on regenerative resilience for coastal communities across Europe facing climate-related risks. The third, the Barcelona School of Climate Urbanism, is a transdisciplinary laboratory that organises capacity-building workshops for local stakeholders to encourage change in the areas of climate governance, resilient design, regenerative communities and nature-based solutions. Co-funded by the Government of Catalonia, the initiative will bring together more than 100 organisations from across the region to promote a new approach to planning centred on climate urbanism.
With the launch of JURECA, UIC has expanded its network of university research institutes and reinforced its commitment to generating and sharing knowledge. The University’s eight research institutes promote interdisciplinary research aimed at addressing society’s key challenges, while fostering collaboration with other institutions and ensuring that research results benefit society and the wider economy.
Noelia Galán, director of Knowledge Generation and Transfer at UIC, highlighted the strategic importance of the new institute for the University: “JURECA is a strategic initiative for UIC, both because of the significance of the challenges it addresses and its ability to connect research with real societal needs. Having an internationally recognised researcher such as Dr Lorenzo Chelleri leading the institute strengthens our research profile, opens up new opportunities for collaboration and helps us advance impactful research that not only generates knowledge, but also turns it into tangible solutions for society.”
