RSA Events – Event report IV RSA Annual Conference, Reflections on Regional Change, Financial Geographies and Collaboration
2025 RSA Annual Conference
Navigating Regional Transformation
University of Porto, Portugal
6 May 2025 – 9 May 2025
Report
Reflections on Regional Change, Financial Geographies and Collaboration
The 2025 RSA Annual Conference, Navigating Regional Transformation, held in Porto from May 6–9, was one of the most enriching academic events I have attended. Marking RSA’s 60th anniversary, the conference celebrated the association’s legacy while delivering high-quality content and fostering meaningful scholarly exchange.
I participated as a postdoctoral researcher at the University of São Paulo. I presented my work, Subordinate Financialisation: A Systematic Review of Key Theories and Regional Dynamics, in the session Finance, Space and Regional Development I. This paper, soon to be published in FinGeo’s Working Paper Series, generated insightful discussion thanks to the presence of colleagues such as Franziska Sohns, Dariusz Wójcik, and Leonardo Pataccini. It was a unique opportunity to exchange direct feedback with members of the FinGeo network.
I also had the pleasure of engaging with editors of Finance & Space, including Wójcik and Karen Lai, whose journal aligns closely with my research agenda in financial geography and urban political economy. The intellectual environment was further enriched by sessions such as Unlocking Innovation: Financial Strategies for Strengthening National Innovation Systems and Economic Growth, where energy and artificial intelligence discussions contributed valuable perspectives to my ongoing investigations.
The FinGeo Annual Lecture was also inspiring. Adam Dixon’s “The Limits to State Capital: On the Hubris of State Intervention in the Age of Trump” was content-rich and thought-provoking, helping me reassess several concepts in my work on state financialisation. Another interesting session I found was Navigating Regional Transformation: Financial Centres in a Polycrisis Era, which included a high-quality roundtable format encouraging vibrant exchanges among all participants. Hearing from scholars such as Sabine Dörry, a former FinGeo colleague, was a pleasure. Hear from scholars whose insights into financial centre dynamics remain especially relevant.
Beyond academic content, the conference offered valuable networking opportunities. It was significant to meet many FinGeo executive committee colleagues with whom I’ve been collaborating since 2021. I also reconnected with several peers and mentors from my PhD years at the University of Porto, including my former co-supervisor, António Ferreira—an unexpected but joyful reunion during the conference dinner.
Speaking of which, the dinner was a highlight! Held at Porto’s historic Stock Exchange Palace, it combined architectural grandeur with warm hospitality and exquisite Portuguese cuisine.
I am deeply grateful to RSA for organising such a well-curated, elegant, and intellectually stimulating event. Congratulations to the entire RSA team for bringing together such a vibrant and generous scholarly community.
The author of this report
Claudia Affonso
Photos
Conference Statistics
The Regional Studies Association’s Annual Conference 2025 #RSA25 was held in partnership with the School of Economics and Management at the University of Porto, Portugal. This four-day conference brought together academics and policymakers to exchange news, views and research findings from regional studies and science, regional and economic development, policy and planning. There was representation from 57 different global territories as we gathered established experts and early career researchers in the beautiful city of Porto.
The conference featured 750+ presentations, high-profile plenary speakers, several specially convened sessions, workshops, professional development and networking sessions, walking tours and field trips. The social programme included the conference dinner and a reception, side events, exhibitor stalls and post-conference tours to explore Porto.
