Personal profile
CV
Education
1997 PhD in Economic Geography, Department of Geography, University of Copenhagen
1994 Master in Human Geography, Department of Geography, University of Copenhagen
1991 BA in Geography, Department of Geography, University of Copenhagen
Academic work experience
2015- Professor, Section of Geography, Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management, University of Copenhagen
2001-2014 Associate professor, Section of Geography, Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management, University of Copenhagen
1998-2001 Assistant professor, Department of Geography, University of Copenhagen
1997-1998 Amanuensis, Department of Geography, University of Copenhagen
1994-1997 PhD Fellow, Department of Geography, University of Copenhagen
Research Funding
My research funding has come from various sources in the past 15 years: Funding sources include the Ruben Rausing Fond, Realdania Foundation, Øresundsuniversitetet, Nordregio, EU 5th framework programme, ESPON, By- og Landskabsstyrelsen, University of Copenhagen, COWIfonden, Interreg, Copenhagen Capital Region, Kraks Fond Byforskning and Nordic Council of Ministers.
Current Research projects
2014-2015 Danskernes produktion gennem tiderne (The production in Denmark) – a research project in collaboration with KRAKS Fond Byforskning.
2014- Pilotprojekt vedr. udviklingen af peri-urbane områder - kombination af ekspertiser indenfor et fælles interesseområde".
2014- Multifactor Partitioning – new ways to analyse regional industrial change and de-industrialisation.
2012-2015 Transformation of small and medium sized cities in Denmark.
2011-2015 Centre for Strategic Urban Research II. The Centre, established in 2004, conducts inter-disciplinary urban research and is a collaboration between the University of Copenhagen, the Aarhus School of Architecture and Aalborg University. The Centre is funded by the Realdania Foundation.
PhD graduates
Kalle Emil Holst Hansen – main supervisor (2012-2015 - expected)
Teis Hansen – main supervisor (2009-2012)
Christine Benna Skytt-Larsen – main supervisor (2006-2010)
Ana Mosneaga – co-supervisor (2009-2012)
Søren Smidt-Jensen – co-supervisor (2009-2011)
Short presentation
My research is on the key aspects of urban and regional development and industrial change and location with a focus on the importance of employment, human capital, competitiveness and innovation and the geography of the knowledge economy. I use both quantitative and qualitative methodologies including register based data from Statistics Denmark and case studies to understand the spatial patterns and processes of the complexities of location of economic activities and its socioeconomic consequences in the European context.
My research in urban and economic geography emanates from the fact that cities and city-regions have increasingly become the key locations of everyday life and are major concentrations of economic, social and political activities. Moreover, the large city regions (and cities) continue to spread, physically changing the surrounding landscapes and towns creating new urban forms including peri-urban areas. At the same time, many cities, regions and towns struggle with job losses, industrial restructuring and depopulation, and hence countries face new spatial and socio-economic inequalities.
Four current and future key research themes have my particular interest: a) Urban and regional development, human capital and industrial restructuring, b) transformation of small and medium sized cities, c) re-industrialisation of cities and regions – competitiveness and local impact and d) urbanisation and industrial change in the outer city and peri-urban areas.
Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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Capital accumulation through “urban sandboxing”: Exploring planetary urbanization and marginalization in Rome’s urban peripheries
Tomassi, O. & Winther, L., 2026, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Journal of Urban Affairs. 19 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
Open Access -
Vi spejler os i steder, vi aldrig har været
Winther, L., 31 Mar 2026Research output: Other contribution › Net publication - Internet publication › Communication
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Erhverv og beskæftigelse i danske landkommuner – struktur, udvikling og fremtidsudsigter
Hansen, H. K., Winther, L. & Kučerák, O., 2025, Institut for Geovidenskab og Naturforvaltning, Københavns Universitet. 68 p. (IGN Rapport; No. november 2025).Research output: Book/Report › Report › Research › peer-review
File37 Downloads (Pure) -
Arbitrære grænser: Et nødvendigt onde i økonomisk geografi
Hansen, H. K. & Winther, L., 2024, In: Geografisk Orientering. 2024, 5, p. 18-20 3 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
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Urban development beyond a centre-periphery dichotomy: An analysis of small and medium-sized towns in Denmark
Fertner, C., Hansen, H. K. & Winther, L., 2024, In: European Journal of Spatial Development. 21, 2, p. 63-81Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
Open AccessFile4 Citations (Scopus)91 Downloads (Pure) -
De mellemstore byers omstrukturering i land- og yderkommunerne: befolkning, erhverv og human kapital
Fertner, C., Hansen, H. K. & Winther, L., 2023, In: Økonomi & Politik. 96, 1, p. 27-40Translated title of the contribution :Restructuring of medium-sized towns in peripherial municipalities: Population, economy and human capital Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
Open AccessFile45 Downloads (Pure) -
Intra-urban industrial restructuring in the city of Copenhagen: workplaces and employment changes in metro- and non-metro-served areas, 2002-2012
Bothe, K., Hansen, H. K. & Winther, L., 2023, In: Urban Research & Practice. 16, 2, p. 163-188Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
2 Citations (Scopus) -
Intra-urban localization of services
Winther, L., 2023, Elgar Encyclopedia of Services. Gallouj, F., Gallouj, C., Monnoyer, M.-C., Rubalcaba, L. & Scheuer, M. (eds.). Edward Elgar Publishing, p. 524-525 2 p. (Elgar Encyclopedias in the Social Sciences).Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Book chapter › Research › peer-review
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