Penn Institute for Urban Research

What Penn Institute for Urban Research does

Penn Institute for Urban Research (Penn IUR) is a non-profit academic research institute founded in 2004 and housed within the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. It is co-directed by Eugénie L. Birch (Lawrence C. Nussdorf Professor of Urban Research and Education) and Susan M. Wachter (Albert Sussman Professor of Real Estate and Professor of Finance at the Wharton School). The institute operates as a cross-disciplinary platform that connects Penn faculty from Wharton, the Weitzman School of Design, the School of Arts & Sciences, the Graduate School of Education, and the School of Social Policy & Practice with practitioners, policymakers, and students to produce and disseminate urban scholarship.

Penn IUR's core offerings are organized around publications, events, student programs, media, and research initiatives. Publications include the Urban Link monthly newsletter, the SSRN Urban Research eJournal (9,000+ papers, ~1.6 million downloads), the C21 Books series with Penn Press (approaching 50 titles), and the Expert Voices and Scholarly Voices essay series. Events include the annual Urban Leadership Forum (now in its 21st year) with its associated Nussdorf Urban Leadership Prize, the Urban Doctoral Symposium, the Special Briefing series on public finance with the Volcker Alliance (10,000+ annual viewers/listeners), and the Forum on Urban Informality. Student programs include the Urban Doctoral Symposium, the Fellows in Urban Leadership program, and the Urban Research Colloquium. Research initiatives include the City Climate-Resilient Infrastructure Finance Initiative (C2IFI) and the SDSN Global Commission for Urban SDG Finance (where Penn IUR serves as Secretariat for an 80-member commission co-chaired by the mayors of Paris and Rio de Janeiro).

Penn IUR does not sell commercial products or services and operates on institutional funding from the University of Pennsylvania, supplemented by grants, donations, and partnerships with foundations, corporations, and government entities. Its pricing model is non-commercial; all publications, events, and student programs are offered freely. International engagement includes partnerships with CAF (Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean), the Korea Housing Finance Corporation, the National University of Singapore, the Guangzhou Institute for Urban Innovation, and the UN Environment Programme. The institute employs approximately 19 people and is governed under the University of Pennsylvania.

Name

Penn Institute for Urban Research

Legal name

Penn Institute for Urban Research (Penn IUR)

Website

https://penniur.upenn.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Penn Institute for Urban Research is a non-profit academic research institute at the University of Philadelphia that connects faculty, policymakers, practitioners, and students to produce urban scholarship across climate, housing, finance, and development. It disseminates work via publications, events, and convenings, including a 21-year-running Urban Leadership Forum.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Urban Research and Policy

NAICS

Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (54172), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)

SIC

Miscellaneous Publishing (2741), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Comprehensive Doctoral Research Universities (Multi-Disciplinary) (EDAHABAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Interdisciplinary & Multidisciplinary Scholarly Publishing (EDAGAFAI)

Keywords

• Urban policy research
• Sustainable urban development
• Urban studies institute
• City planning research
• Urban governance policy

Headquarters

HQ city

Philadelphia

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Institutional Funding: Penn IUR operates as part of the University of Pennsylvania, relying on institutional funding from the university, grants, donations, and partnerships with organizations such as corporations, foundations, and government agencies. As an academic research institute, it does not operate a commercial revenue model.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Penn IUR is a non-profit academic research institute at the University of Pennsylvania that conducts interdisciplinary urban research and disseminates it through scholarly publications, expert briefings, student programs, and convenings. It connects Penn faculty with external scholars, policymakers, and practitioners across themes including climate resilience, urban development, rapid urbanization, housing, state and local finance, and anchor institutions. Its outputs (newsletter, eJournal, book series, events, podcasts, leadership prize) are offered free to global academic, policy, and practitioner audiences.

Product overview

The Penn Institute for Urban Research (Penn IUR) is an academic research institute that serves as a platform for urban scholarship and policy engagement rather than a commercial technology product company. Its offerings consist of publications (including Urban Link newsletter, the SSRN Urban Research eJournal, the C21 Books book series published with Penn Press, the Scholarly Voices Series, and Expert Voices Series), student programs (Urban Doctoral Symposium, Fellows in Urban Leadership), events (Special Briefing Series, Urban Leadership Forum, Forum on Urban Informality), media content (podcasts, photography contest), and research initiatives (C2IFI, SDSN Global Commission for Urban SDG Finance). These offerings are interconnected components of Penn IUR's mission to bridge research, policy, and practice in advancing sustainable urban development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Urban Link Newsletter Monthly newsletter providing expert commentary on urban topics and highlighting Penn IUR's research in the context of pressing urban issues; distributed free via email subscription.
• SSRN Urban Research eJournal Electronic journal published in conjunction with SSRN, serving as an open-access repository of urban-focused research papers for global scholars and institutions.
• C21 Books (The City in the 21st Century) Cross-disciplinary book series published by the University of Pennsylvania Press, edited by Penn IUR Co-Directors Eugénie Birch and Susan Wachter, featuring urban research.
• Scholarly Voices Series Series featuring Penn IUR Faculty Fellows and highlighting scholars' foundational work to inform and inspire urban policy; launched in 2025 to mark 20 years of urban research.
• Expert Voices Series Annual publication series engaging distinguished experts to address pressing urban challenges through essays on topics like urban policy, housing, and federalism.
• Urban Doctoral Symposium Annual symposium bringing together Penn scholars to celebrate doctoral and undergraduate scholarship addressing urban topics.
• Penn IUR Fellows in Urban Leadership Program connecting Penn students with public and private decision-makers through visits to cities.
• Special Briefing Series Monthly live virtual discussion series covering timely topics on urban policy, infrastructure, and local government finance, produced in partnership with the Volcker Alliance.
• Urban Leadership Forum and Nussdorf Urban Leadership Prize Annual forum recognizing visionary leadership in cities, featuring the Lawrence C. Nussdorf Urban Leadership Prize awarded to urban leaders such as Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, Patrick Harker, and Enrique Peñalosa.
• Forum on Urban Informality Event series providing a space for graduate and post-graduate researchers and practitioners to exchange ideas on urban informality.
• Global Photo Contest Annual photography contest inviting submissions of images capturing urban life and shared spaces; 2026 theme is Sharing and Caring Cities.
• Penn IUR Podcasts Audio content featuring discussions on urban research, policy, and Penn IUR events.
• City Climate-Resilient Infrastructure Finance Initiative (C2IFI) Initiative identifying gaps in funding for urban nature-based solutions and supporting climate-resilient infrastructure finance.
• SDSN Global Commission for Urban SDG Finance Commission co-chaired by the mayors of Paris and Rio de Janeiro, developing frameworks for urban sustainable development goals financing; Penn IUR serves as Secretariat.

Quantifiable outcome

• The Urban Research eJournal has over 9,000 papers downloaded 1.6 million times
• +2 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing collaboration between Penn researchers and PHS in creating and supporting programs that create cleaner and greener neighborhoods. PHS's greening initiatives—tree planting and converting vacant lots—help create vibrant, safe, and healthy communities through economic opportunity, high-quality environments, and strong social connections.
• Corporación Andina de Fomento (CAF) - Development Bank of Latin America and the CaribbeanflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partnership to advance urban SDG financing. CAF is the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean, supporting the conceptual development of financing mechanisms for sustainable urban development in the region.
• Korea Housing Finance CorporationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNew partnership deepening Penn IUR's commitment to advancing housing finance solutions on an international scale, complementing work on housing policy and urban development.
• National University of Singapore (NUS) Institute of Real Estate and Urban StudiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNew partnership to advance urban policy solutions internationally, focusing on real estate and urban studies research collaboration.
• Fairmount Park ConservancycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in urban greening initiatives. Tony Sorrentino (Incoming CEO) participated in Penn IUR events discussing universities' role in community development and creating accessible green spaces.
• Penn Center for Health JusticecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on health justice research, including the Deeply Rooted Collaborative (jointly funded by Penn and Children's Hospital of Philadelphia) that enables residents to guide greening efforts.
• Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) Global Commission for Urban SDG FinanceflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPenn IUR serves as Secretariat for this 80-member commission co-chaired by mayors Anne Hidalgo (Paris), Eduardo Paes (Rio de Janeiro), and Jeffrey Sachs. The commission develops recommendations for urban sustainable development goals financing and contributed to IPCC special reports.
• Volcker AlliancecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership on the monthly Special Briefing series covering public finance topics. The series reached 10,000+ viewers/listeners in 2023-2024.
• Guangzhou Institute for Urban InnovationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on an urban innovation assessment tool and contributing to publications on urban sustainable development, governance, finance, and politics.
• United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on the 'From Grey to Green: Better Data to Finance Nature in Cities' report released during COP16 Colombia, providing practical tools for cities to track, budget, and scale investments in nature.
• Urban Doctoral Network (Penn Schools)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork connecting PhD students from across Penn schools (Weitzman School of Design, School of Arts & Sciences, Graduate School of Education, School of Social Policy & Practice) for interdisciplinary urban research collaboration.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• MIT Senseable City Lab: University-based urban research lab studying how technology and data reshape cities. Comparable to Penn IUR as an academic urban research hub that produces publications, convenes experts, and partners globally.
• NYU Marron Institute of Urban Management: University-based urban research institute at NYU conducting applied research on cities, housing, and transportation. Highly comparable to Penn IUR as a peer university research center with similar convening and publication functions.
• Lincoln Institute of Land Policy: Independent research organization focused on land policy, urbanization, and taxation. Closely comparable to Penn IUR in producing academic publications, policy briefs, and convening city leaders on urban issues.
• World Resources Institute Ross Center for Sustainable Cities: Research center focused on sustainable urban development, mobility, and climate resilience in cities. Highly comparable to Penn IUR's C2IFI initiative and SDSN Urban SDG Finance commission work on climate-resilient urban finance.
• New Cities Foundation: Non-profit that convenes city leaders and produces research on urban innovation, mobility, and inclusion. Comparable to Penn IUR for its international urban convening and policy publications.
• MIT Urban Risk Lab: University research lab focused on urban risk, climate resilience, and infrastructure in cities. Directly comparable to Penn IUR's climate and resilience theme and its urban SDG finance convening work.
• JHU Institute for Housing Studies: University-based policy research center focused on housing markets and urban economics. Comparable to Penn IUR's housing theme and Co-Director Susan Wachter's real estate expertise at Wharton.
• Georgia Tech Center for Quality Growth and Regional Development: University-based research center producing applied urban and regional research on growth, land use, and transportation. Directly comparable as a peer university urban research center.

Broad incumbents

• Urban Institute: Large non-profit research organization producing evidence-based insights on cities, housing, and economic mobility. Comparable to Penn IUR for its urban research and policy convening, though it operates at a much larger scale.
• Brookings Metropolitan Policy Program: Major think tank program conducting research on cities, metropolitan economies, and urban policy. Comparable as a producer of urban research and policy convening, though operating at a much larger scale across many policy areas.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses2 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/PennIUR
• YouTubeyoutube.com/pennurbanresearch
• Facebookfacebook.com/PennIUR.upenn
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/penniur
• Instagraminstagram.com/penniur

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Penn Institute for Urban Research