ABOUT THE
INSTITUTE

About the Institute

Our Role in Urban and Regional Development

At the Institute for Urban Excellence, we recognise that effective, inclusive and sustainable development is reliant on collaborative inputs from across society. This means that innovations and ideas must be shared between sectors, governance levels, and communities. Our work is positioned at the interface of academia, policymaking, and civil society, where we promote real-world applications to the big questions of the modern era. As a think tank and knowledge broker, we operate in applied research projects, facilitate the dissemination of important societal insights, organise capacity building activities and implement technical assistance programmes. 

Collaboration is all about narrative. Combining the expertise of our team and of our extensive network of partners, we find the right ways to communicate vital messages to those who need to hear them. This means we stay up to date with emerging ideas in our applied research projects, finding ways to open conversations between stakeholders. In our capacity building activities and technical assistance programmes, we take these ideas and turn them into actionable advice and learnings for decision makers, practitioners and communities. Our resources and partners stretch across the globe, allowing us to draw on knowledge and establish connections from a vast array of regions and contexts.

Our Objectives

The Institute’s prime objectives are to: 

  • Conduct applied research related to our core themes
  • Promote knowledge transfer and best practices across sectors, governance levels and communities
  • Provide capacity-building and technical assistance to uphold professional excellence in planning
  • Broaden debate around transitional needs for better human settlements
  • Generate and develop connections between individuals and entities through our vast network of partners

Our Story

Originally established in 2016 as a spin-off (ISOCARP Institute) of the International Society of City and Regional Planners and as a Dutch foundation, the Institute for Urban Excellence has developed in recent years into a globally recognised knowledge broker, active in a range of research, practice and capacity building in the expanded field of urban planning.

Starting its activities in March 2018, the Institute has grown over the years and was renamed as Institute for Urban Excellence in April 2025, continuing to grow and diversify.

Involved in a variety of projects and connected to a myriad of global organisations, the Institute has taken a self-directed path, shifting its affiliations to prioritise a wide range of connections with many organisations.

Board of Directors

Didier Vancutsem

Didier Vancutsem

DIRECTOR
Didier Vancutsem (Germany/Belgium) is a consultant with extensive experience in urban and regional planning, landscape planning, infrastructure, environmental management and integrated strategies. He is professor and lecturer at the Université Libre de Bruxelles / Faculty of Architecture and other universities in Belgium, France, Germany and Russia.
Daniele Vettorato

Daniele Vettorato

DIRECTOR
Daniele (Italy) leads a research team in urban and regional energy systems in the institute for Renewable Energy at EURAC Research, based in Bolzano, Italy. He holds a PhD from the University of Trento, focused on sustainable energy in cities and regions. Daniele has co-authored over 50 and has been invited as lecturer and speaker in more than 50 events.

Our Team

Yoaan

Yoann Clouet

EXECUTIVE PROJECT MANAGER
Yoann is Executive Project Manager and EU regional and urban policy expert. He holds an Advanced Master in EU studies from the College of Europe, with a focus on the EU climate sustainability policy and legislation framework. Prior to joining the Institute in 2022, he worked in the private and public sectors, focusing on the policies, instruments and funding for sustainable cities. He is notably involved in developing and implementing projects in strategic areas of interest for the urban planning practice.
Tannya2

Tannya Pico

PROJECT MANAGER
Tannya is an architect with broad practices in architectural design, urbanism, construction management, and academia. She holds a PhD in Urban Governance and Development, on the topic of the absorptive capacities of local stakeholders for the concept of Nature-Based Solutions in the Ecuadorian urban context.
Mariana

Mariana Binder

PROJECT ASSISTANT
Mariana joined the Institute in December 2023 to work on communication, dissemination and design across EU Horizon projects and Institute activities. She has a background in architecture and planning and holds a MSc in Urban Management. She is passionate about social justice and the promotion of diversity and inclusivity in cities.
Photo-Taliah-Website 2

Taliah Dommerholt

PROJECT MANAGER
Taliah joined the Institute in April 2022 as a project manager. She is passionate about the intersection of sustainability and social justice and specialises in urban transitions, community mobilisation, and environmental policy. At the Institute she helped wrap up the +CityxChange project and now works on PLUSChange, UP2030, and SPADES.
Maja

Maja Paskalova-Utkovska

FINANCIAL ADMINISTRATOR
Maja joined the Institute in December 2022 as a Financial Administrator. She has extensive experience and knowledge of banking financial services industry, products, and solutions. She holds a university degree in Economics, department management. Still committed to learning, development and growth, she recently obtained Dutch Financial WFT and CDD Certificates.
Rebecca

Rebecca Baugh

PROJECT ASSISTANT
Rebecca joined the Institute in February 2024 to continue working on the DUST project, in which she was previously involved as a student researcher at TU Delft. She has a background in architecture and urbanism as well as Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice. Amongst other topics, her work explores languages that can be used to best engage diverse groups; co-creative participation in planning and design; inhabitant (spatial) literacy building; and intersectionality in urban analysis. At its core, Rebecca’s work is driven by a goal of collectively creating a safer, more free and just world where vast ranges of people feel heard, seen and valued.
SAMIR_24

Samir Amin

PROJECT MANAGER
Samir joined the Institute in September 2022 to work across EU Horizon projects, coming from a background in sustainable urban development. He is specialised in community mobilisation, storytelling, urban policy and social justice. Samir's work focuses on community development and liveability in the built environment through the amplification of less-heard voices and diverse forms of knowledge.
Alice

Alice Jelmini

PROJECT ASSISTANT
Alice joined the Institute in April 2023 to work across EU Horizon projects. She has a background in international relations and international development, with specialisations in Politics and governance of development and experiences in international organisations and NGOs. Her interests are urban development and planning and their interesections with environmental and social justice and sustainability. She has conducted various research projects in blockchain/digital governance and urban degrowth to explore innovative solutions for sustainable development.

We are commited to gender parity. Read about our gender equality plan here.

Our Network of Partners

Through our on-going projects and activities, we work with a network of partners and contacts across the worldWe are always open to developing new partnerships and initiatives, get in touch to find out who we work with in your region and propose new collaborations!

COOPERATION & PARTNERSHIPS

The Institute is always looking for potential partner organisations to develop new initiatives together. Get in touch! We are happy to discuss new ideas related to research, planning advisory and training.

COOPERATION &
PARTNERSHIPS

The Institute is always looking for potential partner organisations to develop new initiatives together. Get in touch! We are happy to discuss new ideas related to research, planning advisory and training.