Over more than fifteen years, the Future Cities Laboratory (FCL) has become one of the world’s leading urban research platforms, recognised for its scientific depth, methodological innovation, and ambition to link research with real-world impact. With FCL Global concluding in March 2026 (Phase 1) and October 2026 (Phase 2), the initiative reaches a moment of reflection and transition. From its beginnings in the first two programmes to its global expansion, FCL has continuously broadened its scope, integrating new disciplines, technologies, and forms of collaboration.
Having co-developed the third programme together with Stephen Cairns and ETH colleagues, and having led it across multiple leadership constellations for more than six years—from early conception to implementation—I have witnessed how FCL has matured into an internationally significant research ecosystem capable of shaping global debates on urbanisation.
FCL’s work is grounded in fundamental academic research, producing high-impact publications, advanced models, and experimental design propositions. This foundational research has deliberately been translated into applied outputs for governmental agencies and policy-making. Close and sustained collaborations with public-sector partners have enabled scientific insight, design innovation, and engineering expertise to be embedded directly in governance contexts. This ability to bridge research and practice has become one of FCL’s defining strengths, informing planning instruments, regulatory frameworks, and long-term urban strategies in both Singapore and Switzerland.
Yet world-class research alone does not constitute global leadership. Addressing diverse and often fragile urban contexts—marked by uncertainty, data scarcity, and institutional variability—requires moving beyond narrow technological solutionism toward more pluralistic, adaptive, and justice-oriented approaches. FCL Global has contributed to this shift; FCL IV is positioned to deepen it by focusing on systemic transitions and implementation.
As we move into 2026, an important external review process will take place during January and February. This review will be led by the Scientific Advisory Committee and conducted primarily through structured document exchange. This phase is not merely procedural but crucial: it will play a decisive role in shaping the evaluation and, ultimately, the successful positioning of FCL IV. I therefore encourage everyone involved to engage openly and constructively, and to approach this process with the same commitment to quality, clarity, and rigour that has characterised FCL’s work over the years.
As Executive Director, I will continue to lead FCL Global through its completion, ensuring a responsible and coherent close of the programme. For the FCL IV proposal currently being finalised and submitted before Christmas, I will not be part of the programme leadership.
Leadership will be handed over to the next generation of researchers who will carry FCL forward into its next phase. I thank all researchers, collaborators, partners, and members of the leadership team for their dedication, trust, and creativity.
I wish everyone a successful finalising year for FCL Global and all the very best for the new year and the exciting work ahead with FCL IV.
Executive Director, FCL Global
