CIVICA is excited to announce the results of its first-ever Call for Research Hubs. This new initiative is designed to support ambitious, long-term collaboration across CIVICA universities, bringing together researchers to tackle major societal, political and economic challenges facing Europe and the world.
A new flagship initiative strengthening long-term, interdisciplinary research collaboration
CIVICA Research Hubs are conceived as durable platforms for cooperation. They go beyond individual projects by fostering interdisciplinary research networks and shared data and infrastructure. Through this first call, CIVICA is laying the foundations for research that is not only high quality, but also collaborative, policy-relevant and internationally connected.
The four hubs selected through this inaugural call reflect the breadth of CIVICA’s academic expertise and global outlook. They will explore Africa’s digital transformation and global digital governance; the growing role of group identities in reshaping democratic politics; the impact of social platforms and artificial intelligence on political polarisation; and innovative approaches to migration and integration governance in Europe, informed by recent displacement crises. Together, these hubs demonstrate CIVICA’s commitment to research that speaks directly to contemporary challenges.
Selected Projects
SEPO
Scaling the European Polarisation Observatory for the study of social platforms and AI
The project aims to expand the European Polarisation Observatory from its current role as a growing data infrastructure into a durable research network and sustainable platform for collecting, processing and sharing social media and public opinion data. It seeks to support researchers and students within and beyond CIVICA by strengthening long-term data access and advancing the study of online social ecosystems across all of CIVICA’s thematic areas.
Partner universities: Sciences Po, CEU, LSE, SNSPA, Hertie School, Bocconi University
TRANSCONNECT
Researching Integration Pathways, Transconnectivity and Policy Innovation in Multilevel Migration Governance
The project establishes a long-term research hub on European migration and integration governance, centered on the concept of transconnectivity and using post-2022 Ukrainian forced migration as its initial focus. It lays the groundwork for major Horizon Europe proposals through coordinated research, workshops, seminars, stakeholder engagement, policy innovation, and communication activities running from January 2026 to June 2027.
Partner universities: SGH Warsaw School of Economics, EUI, SSE, SNSPA, CEU, IE University, Hertie School and three Ukrainian CIVICA Partners (NaUKMA, KNEU, KSE)
DigiAfrica
Infrastructure, Critical Minerals, and Transnational Governance in Africa’s Digital Transition
DigiAfrica is an interdisciplinary research network that examines the political economy of Africa’s digital transformation, focusing on digital infrastructure, critical minerals, and governance frameworks. It aims to generate evidence and collaboration through workshops, a webinar series, and a joint Horizon Europe proposal, centering African agency in shaping digital partnerships.
Partner universities: EUI, Sciences Po, LSE, Bocconi University
GROUPID
Group Identity Politics and the End of Liberal Consensus
The project proposes a pilot study involving a large-scale survey and embedded experiment in France and Germany to examine the rising salience of racial, ethnic, and religious identities, their economic and status drivers, and their political consequences. It is intended as a first step toward establishing the CIVICA Hub on Democratic Resilience and Group Identities, building a research network and laying the groundwork for future panel studies and policy-relevant interventions.
Partner universities: Hertie School, CEU, LSE, IE University, Sceinces Po
What’s next for the first CIVICA Research Hubs?
With the selection process complete, the four hubs will now move into their implementation phase, launching research activities, events and collaboration structures from 2026 onwards. Over the coming months, teams will begin building their networks and organising workshops and seminars. As the first CIVICA Research Hubs take shape, they will also create new opportunities for engagement with early-career researchers, students and policy stakeholders, helping CIVICA to stand out as a leading European alliance for challenge-driven research.
