Mariusz E. Sokolowicz is a scholar and urban activist, a Professor at the Faculty of Economics and Sociology, University of Lodz (Poland), and is the Chair of the Department of Regional Economics and Environment. He specializes in urban and regional studies, institutional economics, place marketing and economics of proximity. For several years, he worked as a real estate manager and advisor, as well as a local government official responsible for the town centre revitalization project.

Aleksandra Nowakowska is a Professor at the University of Lodz (Poland) in the Department of Regional Economics and Environmental Protection and Head of the Institute of Urban and Regional Studies and Planning. Her main areas of scientific interest are development and local policy, innovative methods and tools for managing the development of cities, smart city and development strategies of cities and regions.

Blazej Ciarkowski is an Associate Professor at the Institute of Art History, University of Lodz (Poland). He is the leader of the research team in the international project "InnovaConcrete - Innovative Materials and Techniques for the Conservation of 20th Century Concrete-based Heritage." His research interests focus on modernist architecture, mutual relations between architecture and politics and preservation and conservation of modernist architecture.