University of Lodz Wins Two Grants from the Visegrad Fund

Applications submitted to the International Visegrad Fund were assessed on the basis of five key criteria. Among other things, the importance of the project (Project relevance), i.e. its compliance with the call objectives and adequacy to the current challenges of the region, were assessed. References to the objectives of the Visegrad Group (Visegrad substance), i.e. the extent to which the project supports regional cooperation and integration, were also important. The quality and potential impact of the activities (Quality & Impact), transparency of assumptions and budget (Transparency & Accuracy), and the experience and profile of the applicant's institution (Experience & Mission) in the context of implementing the planned activities were also taken into account.

The largest Polish grant in the call – research on Central Europe in the 19th century press

The "Central Europe in the History – The Year 1846 in Poland in the Light of the European Press" project, headed by Prof. dr hab. Radosław Żurawski vel Grajewski (Faculty of Philosophy and History, University of Lodz), received EUR 60,329 – the highest funding among projects coordinated by Polish institutions and the third highest amount in the entire competition.

The aim of the project is to bring closer the significance of the events of 1846 in Galicia for the history of Central Europe and to examine their reception in the European press at the time. The outbreak of the Cracow Uprising, the Galician Slaughter and the incorporation of the Republic of Cracow into Austria are breakthrough moments that often remain absent from European historical memory. A team of researchers from eight countries (Belgium, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Greece, Poland, Russia, Slovakia and Hungary) will analyse how these events were presented in the press of different parts of the continent – from Belgium, through the Czech Republic and Russia, to Greece.

The research results will be presented in a multilingual publication, available not only to scientists but also to anyone interested in the history of the region. Additionally, two scientific conferences are planned – in Lodz and Brussels – and promotional events in London, Prague, Bratislava, Kraków and Poznań.

"SOVEREIGN" – on state and European sovereignty

The second project, "SOVEREIGN: The Revival of Sovereignty in Central and Eastern Europe and the European Union", led by dr hab. Kazimierz Michał Ujazdowski, Associate Professor at the University of Lodz (European Centre of Constitutional Research, Faculty of Law and Administration, University of Lodz), received funding amounting to EUR 27,300.

The project focuses on the analysis of the phenomenon of the revival of the idea of national sovereignty in Central and Eastern Europe in the context of current political tensions and European integration. In the era of global crises (migration, energy, military), the importance of sovereignty as a political value is growing – both in internal discourse and at the level of EU institutions.

The research team, consisting of experts from Italy, Slovakia, Hungary, Ukraine and organisations from the Czech Republic, will conduct comparative analyses and prepare recommendations on possible models of reconciling state sovereignty with European integration. The project includes a scientific conference in Lodz, expert publications and workshops with the participation of students and representatives of public administration.

Visegrad Grants – a programme supporting international cooperation

The IVF grant programmes are available in three formulas:

• Visegrad Grants – support cooperation of partners from at least three V4 countries in one of the seven areas of interest of the programme. Maximum duration of the grant: 18 months

• Visegrad+ Grants – support democratisation and transformation processes in the Western Balkans and Eastern Partnership countries. Projects must clearly address one of the seven focus areas of the programme. Maximum grant duration: 18 months. Cost coverage up to 100%, including 15% of indirect costs.  

• Strategic Grants – intended for long-term projects corresponding to the strategic priorities of the Visegrad Group. The project must address one of the annual strategic priorities of the Visegrad Group. Minimum project duration: 12 months, maximum project duration: 36 months.

Calls for all types of grants are accepted three times a year – 1 February, 1 June and 1 October. More information can be found at: visegradfund.org. 

Source: Project Support Centre, University of Lodz
Edit: Centre for Brand Communications, University of Lodz