Christian Kersten Hofbauer received his Master of Science degree in Architecture and Urban Design at the Graz University of Technology, Austria. In continuation of his architectural studies, he started his PhD studies at the Graz University of Technology in 2010. His areas of interests are urban development and sustainability and the means of financing these complex issues. Furthermore, a main focus of his research lies in regional development and energy-efficiency measures for urban agglomerations, as well as Smart Cities.

Elham Madadi Kandjani obtained her Master of Science degree in Urban Design in Tehran, Iran, in 2007, and continued with her second Master of Science in Spatial Planning at the Blekinge Institute of Technology, Sweden. She continued her studies with her PhD at the Institute of Urbanism at the Graz University of Technology, Austria, in 2011. She is a leading expert in bioclimatic housing and as a research assistant and scientific expert, her research focus includes urban areas, public spaces, identity, climate change and sustainable urban development.

Jean Marie Corneille Meuwissen is Full Professor and Head of the Institute of Urbanism at the Graz University of Technology, Austria. He graduated from Delft University of Technology, Netherlands, and obtained a doctorate degree at Eindhoven University of Technology, Netherlands. Since 1986, he has been editor-in-chief of the Wiederhall Architectural Serial.