With more than half of humanity already living in urban areas and the world projected to be in a process of ‘planetary urbanisation’, many vital societal challenges are now first and foremost linked to the urban context. It is in cities that the vision of a more just and sustainable future for humanity may or may not become a reality. The Centre for Urban Studies aims at facilitating the interdisciplinary, international, and societal collaborations that are essential to comprehend these challenges and realize this vision.