837,000 Euros from Horizon Europe. UO leads another international research project

The University of Opole’s Border and Regional Studies Institute will coordinate the work of an international consortium carrying out the BARI Network project, which has received funding under Horizon Europe – the European Union’s flagship research programme. Over the next four years, our researchers, together with partners from nine countries, will investigate how to strengthen the resilience of European border regions to contemporary challenges.

The Border and Regional Studies Institute, operating within the Institute of Political Science and Administration of the University of Opole, applied for over 837,000 euros in the Horizon Europe – MSCA Staff Exchanges call in order to develop a European network for research into border regions.

The BARI Network project will focus on the resilience of European border regions to contemporary challenges. It will involve research into removing barriers to the integration of border regions, cooperation in rural areas, border management and crisis management, adaptation to climate change and disaster risk, as well as the role of national and ethnic minorities in the development of cross-border cooperation.

The University of Opole will lead an international consortium of 13 partners from nine European countries. The BARI Network will bring together universities, research institutes and organisations involved in cross-border cooperation from the Czech Republic, France, Spain, the Netherlands, Germany, Norway, Poland, Hungary and Italy.

The project concept and the proposal were developed by: Prof. Hynek Böhm and Dr Wojciech Opioła from the Institute of Political Science and Administration, together with PhD students in political science and administration: Karolina Czabanowska, Weronika Koston and Khrystyna Łazowska.

‘The foundation of the project lies in what we at the BARI value most: cooperation between academia and practice, the exchange of knowledge and experience, and the building of lasting relationships across borders. Academic staff and experts will take part in international exchanges, conduct joint research and develop solutions that will result in academic publications, recommendations for public policies and a lasting European network of collaboration between researchers and practitioners,’ says Prof. Hynek Böhm.

‘This is the second Horizon Europe grant in which the University of Opole is acting as coordinator. The Border and Regional Studies Institute, meanwhile, will start its fifth externally funded research project. Our team is currently working on two OPUS grants from the National Science Centre, a Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence project, and a study commissioned by the Marshal’s Office of the Opole Voivodeship, adds Dr Wojciech Opioła.

From left to right: Wojciech Opioła, Khrystyna Łazowska, Hynek Böhm

Photo: Emilia Joniec