Over €837,000 to strengthen a European research network on border regions
The Border and Regional Studies Institute (BARI), operating within the Institute of Political Science and Public Administration at the University of Opole, has secured funding under the Horizon Europe – MSCA Staff Exchanges programme. The University of Opole is the initiator and coordinator of the international BARI Network (Border and Regional Studies Network) consortium. The project concept and proposal were developed by Professor Hynek Böhm, Dr Wojciech Opioła, and PhD candidates in Political Science and Public Administration: Karolina Czabanowska, Weronika Koston, and Khrystyna Łazowska.
The University of Opole has been awarded more than €837,000 to coordinate the project over the next four years. The consortium brings together 13 academic and non-academic partners from across Europe (Czechia, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Spain), including universities, research institutes, and organisations specialising in cross-border cooperation.
The BARI Network aims to advance research on the resilience of European border regions in the face of today’s major challenges, including geopolitical crises, climate change, security threats, and administrative barriers affecting cross-border cooperation. The project promotes close collaboration between academia and public-sector organisations through an extensive programme of international staff exchanges and joint research activities. The research programme focuses on five thematic areas:
– removing barriers to cross-border integration,
– cooperation in rural border regions,
– border policies and crisis management,
– climate adaptation and disaster risk management in border regions,
– the role of minorities in strengthening cross-border cooperation.
Through joint research, policy-oriented recommendations and knowledge exchange between researchers and practitioners, the project will contribute to developing innovative solutions that enhance the resilience of Europe’s border regions. Expected outcomes include scientific publications, policy recommendations, practical tools for cross-border governance, and a lasting European network connecting researchers and institutions working on border studies.
This is the fifth externally funded research project for BARI. The team is currently implementing two OPUS grants from the National Science Centre, a project from the Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence programme, and a study commissioned by the Marshal’s Office of the Opole Voivodeship.