The mission of the Urban Studies Institute is to generate a better understanding and management of the complex challenges facing cities and urbanizing regions. We promote the creation of more productive, livable, inclusive, and sustainable cities as a key challenge of the 21st century. The Urban Studies Institute focuses on questions related to urban economic resilience, regional patterns and processes of urbanization, policies of development, equity, social well-being of populations, climate change mitigation and transformative futures. USI researchers emphasize the importance of engaging practitioners and policy-makers to make a tangible impact on urban decision-making.