Interregional Governance, Cohesion and Sustainability:
Overcoming Territorial Inequalities for a Balanced Future
June 30 - July 3, 2026 | Polytechnic University of Cávado and Ave, Barcelos, Portugal
The Portuguese Regional Science Association (APDR) is pleased to announce the organisation of the Sustainable Regional Development Academy, which will be held in Barcelos, Portugal, at the Polytechnic University of Cávado and Ave, from June 30 to July 1 of 2026, just before the 2026 APDR conference (2-3 July).
The Sustainable Regional Development Academy will be organized for a maximum of 25 participants.
The Academy is designed as a springboard for successful academic careers by examining important issues such as publishing, reviewing, and collaborative research; the event also provides networking opportunities.
During the Sustainable Regional Development Academy, the participants will:
Develop a collaborative research project based on the case study of Águas do Norte, S.A.
Understand the specifics of wastewater treatment and the supply chain value in the water sector.
Identify problems related to the decarbonisation of wastewater treatment plants, considering different perspectives (e.g., economic, financial, social, and environmental).
Design a strategic plan proposal aimed at solving the problem of decarbonisation of wastewater treatment plants.
Present and discuss the proposed solution to the identified problem.
Participants will have the opportunity to visit Águas do Norte's facilities, during which a lecture will be given providing an overview of the company and contextualizing the problem of decarbonizing wastewater treatment plants. Additionally, qualitative and quantitative data about the study will be presented.
Under the supervision of Águas do Norte’s Corporate Sustainability Coordinator, participants will work in groups to develop a proposal addressing the problem presented, using a range of empirical and applied methods and appropriate software platforms (e.g., Spatial Econometric Analysis and Generalised Q Analysis). Each group will develop a portfolio outlining their ideas and proposed solutions to the challenges set by the company and will present a short pitch at the end of the academy.
Águas do Norte, S.A. is a water utility formed through the merger of regional operators and tasked with managing the water supply and wastewater systems for multiple municipalities in Northern Portugal, ensuring efficient, continuous service and infrastructure development across the region. More information is available on the website: https://www.adnorte.pt.
School of Management (IPCA Campus, Barcelos):
09H00 | Presentation of the Sustainable Regional Development Academy
João Leitão (President of APDR and University of Beira Interior)
António Cardoso Barbosa (Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Chairman of the Board of Directors, Águas do Norte)
Patrícia Gomes (Local Organising Committee )
09H15 | Session 1: Decarbonization of Wastewater Treatment Plants
Maria João Correia (Executive Member of the Board of Directors, Águas do Norte)
Águas do Norte (Areias de Vilar, Barcelos):
10H00 | Visit to Águas do Norte facilities and presentation of the challenge
School of Management (IPCA Campus, Barcelos):
13H00 | Lunch
14H00 | Kick-off: Formation of groups and presentation of the digital platform
14H30 | Session 2: Presentation of the Decarbonization of Wastewater Treatment Plants Problems
Susana Carvalho (Corporate Sustainability Coordinator, Águas do Norte)
15H00 | Development of resolution proposals in groups
16H30 | Session 3: Spatial Econometrics
Andrea Caragliu (Politecnico di Milano)
18H30 | Closing
School of Management (IPCA Campus, Barcelos):
09H00 | Session 4: Generalised Q analysis
Tomaz Ponce Dentinho (University of Azores)
11H00 | Development of resolution proposals in groups
13H00 | Lunch
14H00 | Pitch - Presentation and evaluation of group work
16H30 | Coffee break
17H00 | Closing session
João Leitão (APDR and University of Beira Interior)
Local Organising Committee/President of IPCA
Company Águas do Norte
1. Monitoring and Digitalization
How can artificial intelligence help predict energy consumption peaks or situations that increase the carbon footprint?
What digital indicators should be monitored to assess the “carbon efficiency” of operations in real time?
2. Promoting the Circular Economy and Valorizing By-products
How can waste materials such as sand and grit be converted into resources with economic value, transforming waste into raw materials for industry?
3. Carbon Capture and Bioengineering
Evaluate the possibility of integrating microalgae or other biological systems to capture CO₂ directly into the treatment process?
What innovative bioengineering solutions can reduce emissions associated with conventional biological treatment?
4. Infrastructure, Architecture, and Lifecycle Management
How can wastewater treatment plant materials and design reduce emissions associated with construction and maintenance?
The Sustainable Regional Development Academy has the following structure:
Presentation of a real-world challenge related to the decarbonisation of wastewater treatment plants, launched by the company Águas do Norte.
Visit to the facilities of the company Águas do Norte.
Group work on the challenge launched, with a view to developing a proposed solution to the problem presented, using various tools related to design thinking.
Students' Presentation Sessions, where they could present and discuss their proposals with the instructors and researchers.
The goal of the Sustainable Development Academy is to provide the participants with methodological skills and research experience, in addition to the opportunity to reflect on and develop proposals for solving real-world problems related to environmental sustainability. It will encourage meaningful discussions and exchange of ideas between the participants and field experts, fostering long-term academic collaboration.
Selection of participants
The Sustainable Regional Development Academy will aim to gather participants from any research field interested in developing skills and learning new methods on the topic of environmental sustainability.
The number of participants is limited to 25.
Application submission
Participants who want to participate in the Sustainable Regional Development Academy should submit their application via email (apdr@apdr.pt) by March 15, 2026 (midnight CET) and include (in PDF format):
• A one-page Motivation letter
• A one-page CV of the applicant
After notification of acceptance, the accepted applicants must register and pay the participation fee before the registration deadline.
The fee
Participation fee: €195 (until May 31, 2026).
The fee includes:
(June 30 and July 1) 2 days of Sustainable Regional Development Academy with Technical Excursion;
(July 2-3) 2 days of 2026 APDR Congress;
Lunches and coffee breaks for the 4 days;
Official dinner (July 2).
Please note: Participants must cover their own travel and accommodation expenses to/from the Academy venue.
