On December 16 and 17, 2025, the SURE Conference titled “From Research to Implementation – Sustainable Urban Development in Southeast and East Asia” took place in Bangkok, Thailand. The event marked a significant milestone in fostering collaboration between German and Southeast Asian partners, bringing together experts, researchers, and practitioners to exchange knowledge and strategies for sustainable urban development.
The conference opened at the Goethe-Institute Thailand with a warm welcome and an introduction to the implementation phase of the SURE program. Keynote speeches by Srinivasa Popuri (UN-Habitat) and Kotchakorn Voraakhom (Porous City Network) set the tone for two days of insightful discussions. Throughout the sessions, project teams presented their work, highlighting achievements from the research and development phase and outlining concrete steps for the implementation phase. Topics ranged from urban resilience and water management to community engagement and climate adaptation.
Interactive formats such as the “3×3 Discussions” encouraged dynamic exchanges on implementation, representation, and translation, while the Market Square provided a lively space for networking and showcasing tools, methods, and strategies. The launch of the SURE Atlas was another highlight, offering a comprehensive resource for future collaboration.
Beyond formal sessions, participants enjoyed opportunities for informal dialogue during evening receptions at the Goethe-Institute and the German Embassy.
In addition to the main conference, the MYrisk project (Multiple Risks Management of Extreme Events in Fast-Growing (Mega)Cities in Myanmar) held internal meetings on December 15 and 18 to kick off its implementation phase. The project will focus on Integrated Multiple Disaster Risk Management (IMDRM), emphasizing prevention and preparedness activities for multiple risks. Building on lessons from the previous phase, MYrisk identified key priorities for the future: strengthening social cohesion through trust-building and personal engagement, prioritizing locally and socially based strategies in decision-making and communication, and investing in long-term partnerships to enhance capacity and networks. Flexibility in action and cooperation, combined with mixed-method approaches for research and stakeholder interaction, will form the backbone of the project’s implementation strategy.
The MYrisk meeting and the SURE conference successfully strengthened partnerships and laid the groundwork for the implementation phase of sustainable urban development initiatives across Southeast and East Asia. It concluded with a shared commitment to continued cooperation and knowledge exchange, ensuring that research findings translate into impactful, real-world solutions.
(Image source: DKKV)