Regional Influence Through Academia: Poland’s Role in Integrating the Regional Academic Community

The Forum for Research on Eastern Europe and Emerging Economies (FREE Network) and the Institute of Economics of the Polish Academy of Sciences are pleased to invite you to the conference: Regional Influence through Academia: Poland’s Role in Integrating the Regional Academic Community.

The conference is organised with the primary objective of supporting greater regional integration among researchers and academic institutions across Central and Eastern Europe. Set against the backdrop of recent geopolitical developments in the region, the conference will explore the role of academic research and cross-border academic cooperation in strengthening regional ties. Particular attention will be given to the potential benefits of deeper academic integration and to the role that Poland, as well as the European Union more broadly, can play in supporting this process.

The conference will be divided into two parts. The first will focus on academic perspectives related to regional cooperation and integration in the context of war in Ukraine and geo-political instability. The second will take the form of an expert panel, bringing together representatives from different stakeholder groups to exchange views on the opportunities, challenges, and practical steps needed to strengthen regional academic cooperation.

We hope the conference will provide a platform for constructive dialogue, new connections, and a deeper discussion on how academia can contribute to regional integration and resilience.

Please find the conference programme (see here) for further details on the sessions, speakers, and schedule.

This conference is organised within the framework of the project THE FREE NETWORK – Building Analytical Competence for Future EU Accession, funded by the Swedish Institute (SI).