This year's NIE Workshop was hosted by the Resource Economics Group
This year's NIE Workshop took place under the theme "Commons for the (Not) Gentle World: Institutions, Cooperation and the Shifting Political Landscape" at the Thaer-Institute from March 17 to March 18, 2026. With nearly 50 participants, it was one of the largest to date. Like in previous years, many colleagues from German universities and research institutes such as the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), Leibniz Institute for Agricultural Engineering and Bioeconomy (ATB), Global Climate Forum (GCF), German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS), Leibniz Institute of Ecological Urban and Regional Development (IÖR), University of Passau, University of Greifswald, Dresden University of Technology and Hertie School attended, but there were also several international participants who came to the workshop, particularly from the University of Graz, Nottingham Trent University, Institute for Advanced Studies (IHS) Vienna, University of St. Andrews, Utrecht University and even overseas from the University of the District of Columbia (UDC) in Washington D.C.
The two days were packed with four sessions where scholars presented their own research with an increasing focus on cities, a keynote speech "Food as catalyst for a new economy" by Sabine O'Hara and a panel discussion about the topic “Changing players, changing rules, changing games: How resilient are our institutions?”, and were rounded off with a dinner on the first evening. We are still inspired from all the discussions and presentations and we look forward to seeing everyone again next year!