The ILS – Research Institute for Regional and Urban Development is a non-university urban research institute which explores the dynamics and diversity of urban change in international comparison. The aim of our application-oriented basic research is a better understanding of recent urbanisation processes, in order to gain inter- and transdisciplinary insights into the socially, ecologically and economically sustainable transformation and design of urban spaces at different spatial scales, and and the ILS does this in active dialogue with practitioners, policy makers and societal stakeholders.