The UniGR-Center for Border Studies receives additional European funding

The UniGR-Center for Border Studies network has received additional funding of around 570,000 EUR for the project “European Center for Competence and Knowledge in Border Studies”. With the support from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) the border scholars from the University of the Greater Region (UniGR) will start a further project phase of cross-border scientific cooperation from January 1, 2021. It has already been supported by the Interreg VA GR program since 2018. Thus, the budget for the entire project period 2018-2022 amounts to 4.7 million EUR, of which 55 % EU funding.

Christian Wille, scientific coordinator of the project, emphasizes with regard to the continuation of the cooperation: "The additional EU funds strengthen the role of the UniGR-Center for Border Studies as a competent contact for stakeholders and decision makers in the Greater Region and confirm the ambitious development goal towards a research network of excellence."

In the extension phase of the project until June 2022, the successful cooperation will be further developed and forward-looking. This includes the further expansion of the digital research infrastructures already in place, the stronger international networking and visibility on the international level and the even closer cooperation with stakeholders from the border regions. The UniGR Guest Professorship in Border Studies will also be reconducted in 2021. The approximately 80 involved researchers from the University of the Greater Region will contribute their expertise in these activities, organize public events and participate in processes of the spatial development in the Greater Region.

Frédérique Seidel (General Secretary of the University of the Greater Region) concludes: "We see the extension of this strategic project as a proof of confidence in the scientific community and the University of the Greater Region. Thanks to the pooling of resources and the development of inter-university synergies, the UniGR-Center for Border Studies is on the way to becoming an international reference."