Dipl.-Geogr. Joern Harfst is a research associate at the Department of Geography and Regional Science at the University of Graz since 2012. He has studied Geography at the Universities of Hamburg (Germany) and Southampton (UK). He has a long professional track-record in project management and European cooperation initiatives, also in his previous employment at the Leibniz-Institute of Ecological Urban and Regional Development (Germany). His research interests are regional development, governance and European cohesion. He is a member of the Regional Studies Association.