Partner 1: European Council on Foreign Relations 

Together with IRSP, the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) will continue their research on cohesion in the European Union. Over the past years, this influential and truly pan-European Think Tank has been working on the development of a ‘Cohesion Monitor’ (COMO): a quantitative index to discuss the willingness of the 28 Member States of the EU and their societies for joint action and cooperation. COMO essentially measures and compares individual and structural cohesion within the EU.

In cooperation with IRSP, the Berlin-office of ECFR will now invest into creating a Cohesion Monitor 2.0. They need you to “Rethink Europe”, by finding new ways of looking at European cohesion: how we regard and measure it. More specifically, the research theme will be: “Reconceptualizing and measuring individual and structural cohesion in the European Union.” You will be challenged to reinterpret previous findings, to look for new patterns, and to further develop your analytical skills and academic creativity.

The supervising professor from the University of Groningen was Professor Dr. Jaap de Wilde.

Partner 2: Province of Groningen 

Our first research project will be conducted in joint partnership with the Province of Groningen. The research concerns itself primarily with potential business opportunities for the Province of Groningen with the Baltic States and Scandinavian countries. The aim is to provide the Province with a policy proposal how to enhance cooperation with already existing businesses and to discover new opportunities for collaboration. The main focus lies with the question of how the Province of Groningen should facilitate these opportunities for private businesses in light of its knowledge institutes and businesses regarding these opportunities.

The research will be conducted in two parts: one research group will extensively research the economic and cultural contacts and interests in Scandinavia, whilst the other group will seek to research the same information on the Baltic States. During the research, the Research Groups will utilise the existing contacts of the Province, such as, but not limited to, the Honorary Consuls and other external parties, Netherland Enterprise Agency (RVO) and its foreign equivalents, to map the opportunities and areas of interest relevant to the Province.

Two highly acknowledged professors from the University of Groningen will supervise the research project. One is Dr. Gregory W. Fuller with a great expertise in international political economy and comparative politics. He will supervise the Scandinavian orientation of the research. The other professor is Dr. Nienke de Deugd, who is among other sections an expert in European neighbourhood policy and Eastern Partnership. She will supervise the Baltic orientated part of the research.  ​