The Urban Futures Partnership

The Urban Futures Partnership connects academic research with real-world practice to drive meaningful change in city building, urban mobility, and placemaking.

By bridging the gap between research and implementation, we ensure that cutting-edge urban insights translate into practical solutions that create more livable, connected, and inclusive cities.

“We envision a future where cities are designed around delightful human experiences, fostering freedom of movement, accessibility, and vibrant public spaces.”

Through our expertise in urban design and mobility, we aim to create places where children can thrive. We imagine places where all people—regardless of their ability to drive—can move freely and access opportunities while engaging in urban environments that promote well-being, social connection, and sustainability.

When we think about transition pathways, it's about a point in the future where we want society to go. There's a cone that extends into the future, and each of us has an opportunity to influence where we are in that cone. The further we look into the future, the wider the cone becomes, and the more impact we can have.

The Urban Futures Partnership was founded to address a critical gap: academic research is often confined within the research community, while industry lacks pathways to engage with these insights. Our partnership bridges this divide by making academic knowledge accessible and actionable.

As academics, we spend significant time understanding problems, analyzing them, collecting data, and producing research that suggests ways to address these challenges. However, the final step—communicating results and dissemination—is rarely rewarded or explicitly encouraged in academia.

We believe in making crucial connections between academic work and the practitioners who can apply this knowledge: city officials, government agencies at all levels, and consultants who implement solutions. These connections can significantly impact our collective future.

We also engage the next generation—students and young professionals—to rethink urban spaces and drive policy innovation alongside industry leaders. By shifting the societal mindset about public spaces and mobility rights, we can create a new framework for designing cities that serve everyone.

In today's digital age, the scalable sharing of information presents unprecedented opportunities. A single video can reach tens of thousands of viewers—far beyond what's possible in a classroom or conference venue. We value this form of impact and believe in harnessing digital media to extend the reach of important research findings.

However, creating content is only the first step. Effective communication requires understanding how to reach audiences, craft compelling narratives, and engage with communities—skills that often lie in the realm of marketing and media production.

Multimedia Communication

Creating videos, podcasts, and accessible articles that communicate complex research findings while maintaining control of the narrative. This ensures that nuanced academic perspectives aren't lost or misrepresented as they often are in traditional media coverage.

Cross-Sector Collaboration

Facilitating meaningful partnerships between researchers, practitioners, government officials, and industry experts to co-create solutions.

Interdisciplinary Perspectives

Recognizing that the world is complex and meaningful change requires interdisciplinary approaches that span transport, urban design, planning, and other fields.

Evidence-Based Advocacy

Using rigorous research to inform policy recommendations and urban design approaches that promote sustainable, equitable cities.

Join our network

We're building a network to accelerate change and amplify research impact. If you're into collaborative research, media, or real-world urban solutions, there's a place for you. Together, we can shape more sustainable, livable cities.

Dr. George Liu

Director

The Urban Futures Partnership is directed by Dr. George Liu, whose current research at the Technical University of Munich focuses on the 15-minute city. Dr. Liu completed his PhD on the cycling experience and how the built environment impacts that experience. His work spans multiple disciplines including transport, urban design, and planning, reflecting the interdisciplinary nature of urban challenges.

We are actively recruiting

We welcome collaboration from researchers, industry professionals, and policymakers who are committed to building better cities. If you're interested in contributing to our work, contact us below and be part of shaping the future of urban mobility and placemaking.