Submission process
Healthy City Design 2025 (HCD 2025) International Congress & Exhibition is a global forum for the exchange of knowledge on the research, policy, investment and practice of designing healthy and sustainable cities and communities.
Why submit an abstract?
Organised by SALUS Global Knowledge Exchange in partnership with the Helen Hamlyn Centre for Design, Royal College of Art, which is an international research hub for inclusive design, this year’s congress will be held at the Lowry, MediaCity in Salford, Greater Manchester.
Attendees will develop their knowledge of the political, social and economic context, new policy directions, emerging practice, latest research findings, and skills and core competencies in designing, planning and commissioning city services, technology, infrastructure, and developing real estate that improve people and planetary health. We are delighted to invite you to submit abstracts on the following core themes.
2025 Themes
Mobilising capital for place-based investment that builds diverse, inclusive and prosperous communities
Empowering communities to design and lead changes to systems and environments driving health inequalities
Creating healthier and inclusive living spaces that enhance residents’ quality of life and contribute to thriving communities
Urban strategies that promote compact and vibrant cities, prioritise wellbeing, and foster community resilience
Innovative, inclusive and accessible transportation strategies that promote healthy active travel and sustainable mobility
Embedding planetary health and circular economy principles into urban governance, policy, design and implementation
Scaling digital transformation with AI, new workplace models and innovation districts in the smart city
Digital transformation, innovation districts and new workplace models promoting economic and social development
Authors are invited to submit abstracts of 400 words in English for in-person presentation in the following formats: a) themed paper; b) video+poster; c) workshop. The abstract should clearly state the background, purpose, methods, results and conclusions/implications.
Presentations in all formats can be focused on research, practice or theory. For full abstract guidelines and the submission form, visit www.healthycitydesign.global.
Each presentation will be delivered to an interdisciplinary audience. All abstracts will be subject to a rigorous blind peer-review process by the HCD 2025 programme committee. A select number will be chosen for oral presentation with a wider number presented
as videos + posters. Proposals must be submitted using the abstract proposal form and MUST include the following:
a) presentation type (themed paper, poster or workshop);
b) knowledge focus (research, practice or theory);
c) congress theme (plenary or stream);
d) title, author(s), organisational affiliation and three learning objectives.
Abstracts of the papers selected for presentation will be published online. Please note: the author(s) and/or co-author(s) are required to register and pay the registration fee to participate and present the paper at the Congress. All speakers are expected to participate ‘in person’.
Who should submit a paper and attend?
The Healthy City Design 2025 International Congress & Exhibition attracts the world’s leading interdisciplinary policy thinkers, researchers and practitioners.
The Congress will be of interest to:
| • City governance and policy makers | • Occupational therapists |
| • Community leaders and voices | • Institutional investors |
| • Urban designers and planners | • Business leaders |
| • Public health practitioners | • Technology leaders |
| • Commercial property developers | • Real estate investors |
| • Health and social care planners | • Senior public servants |
| • Sustainability and ESG practitioners | • Environmental groups |
| • Academics and researchers | • Architects and engineers |
| • Economists and social scientist | • Housing developers |
Cities & Health – Healthy City Design Congress special issue
For the third year, SALUS is partnering with the international Routledge journal Cities & Health to publish a Healthy City Design Congress 2025 Special Issue, providing opportunities for academic exposure, practitioner impact and policy insight.
Should you wish your abstract to be considered as a potential paper for the Special Issue, please check the box on the Congress abstract submission form. The selection process for presenting at Healthy City Design and for the Special Issue are separate evaluation processes. Authors may submit practice-based case studies, academic research papers, policy-based papers or commentary. For more information visit their website or contact marcusxgrant@citieshealth.world.
