The KU Leuven Urban Studies Institute (LUSI) is an interdisciplinary institute based in Leuven, Belgium. It brings together researchers from various KU Leuven faculties to collaboratively address complex urban issues. The institute is not located in the Netherlands; it is a Belgian academic initiative within the KU Leuven university, which traces its origins back to 1425 and is among the oldest research universities in Europe.
LUSI was established to integrate urban research across disciplines such as geography, architecture, social sciences, and governance, reflecting the diverse expertise present within KU Leuven. The institute’s activities focus on research, networking, and the translation of academic knowledge into practice, particularly in relation to urban development and urban transformation processes.
Recent and ongoing projects coordinated by LUSI include SUNSET, a European doctoral network that investigates how city-university cooperation can foster Europe’s green and digital transition, and CROSSPOINT, an international project with the Université de Lille that examines public policy and inequality in cross-border metropolitan regions. LUSI is also a partner in Leuven 2030 Urban Lab, advancing climate transition through collaboration among universities, the city, and non-profit sectors.
LUSI’s work is outward-facing and international in scope, demonstrated by its coordination of academic conferences and events such as the UniverCities conference for university city partnerships and a role in organizing the 2025 Summer Institute in Urban Studies, which attracts participants from around the world. The institute combines research, education, and societal engagement to address contemporary urban challenges.