Urgent: EU-wide effort for peace research

The need is evident: armed conflicts around the world are reaching new highs every year, and the EU is directly affected by hotspots such as Ukraine and the Gaza Strip. In order for political strategies to be effective, evidence-based, and sustainable, research is needed to serve as a basis for concrete action. At the instigation of Federal Minister Holzleitner, a kick-off meeting with political and scientific representatives from 16 EU member states took place in December. In the coming months, initial ideas will be developed into precise research questions and concrete project proposals. Maximilian Lakitsch is coordinating this process.
The importance that the minister attaches to peace research is also reflected in Lakitsch's involvement as a representative of Austrian peace research in this year's bilateral exchange of information and opinions between Austria and Switzerland. This format serves to further deepen institutional relations and continue regular direct political dialogue on current issues in higher education and research. In addition to artificial intelligence and digitalization, research security, and quantum research, peace research was also a focus of the discussions.