Center for Strategisk Byforskning is a Danish, cross-institutional research centre that studies urban opportunities and challenges through an interdisciplinary, broad-based approach. Established in 2004, it has developed research on urban architecture, planning and socio-spatial conditions. 1
The centre connects researchers across Danish universities and architecture schools. Its partners include Aalborg University, Aarhus School of Architecture, the Royal Danish Academy and the University of Copenhagen; Roskilde University is also represented in the centre’s current leadership and wider collaboration. 311 The centre’s secretariat is housed at the University of Copenhagen, while its work is carried out through a network rather than a single dedicated site.
Its stated purpose is to generate and share strategic knowledge that can inform decisions about urban development. Research projects, conferences and workshops bring researchers and practitioners together, with attention to sustainability, interdisciplinary work and the practical use of research findings. 41 The centre also works with Dansk Byplanlaboratorium to communicate research to a wider audience and connect it with planning practice and policy. 4
A recurring public activity is the conference series Byforskning uden grænser, which creates a forum for discussion between researchers and practitioners. Recent themes have included artificial intelligence and urban planning in 2025, and strategic urban leadership in 2026. 61 Realdania supported the centre from 2004 to early 2016, helping enable its research activity. 4