Universities Revitalizing Growth and Empowerment in the Danube Region

Programme 2021 - 2027 Interreg VI-B Danube

Date of latest update: 2026-04-29

Description

Description (EN):

URGE main objective is to develop the multiannual and multilateral project that will provide a base for making a lasting impact through collaboration with scientific diaspora in participating countries. The common challenge jointly tackled in this project revolves around the phenomenon of brain drain and the potent role of diaspora in addressing it. As scholars, we recognize the profound impact of brain drain on Southeast Europe, where talented individuals often seek opportunities abroad, leading to a loss of human capital and expertise. We also face a severe lack of data on the scope and characteristics of scientific diaspora that might be engaged and contribute to home societies. Within this challenge lies an opportunity — the potential of our diaspora to become agents of change, to invest not only financially but also through the transfer of knowledge and networks. At the heart of our ambition lies the recognition of the invaluable role of scientific diasporas. They are not just bridges between worlds; they are catalysts for innovation, for collaboration across borders. The project recognizes the vital role of scientific diasporas in fostering cooperation, innovation, and problem-solving in emerging economies. It emphasizes the importance of leveraging the expertise and networks of scientific diasporas to advise and support their countries of origin in addressing challenges such as brain drain. Lack of information on opportunities, lack of institutional networks able to make cooperation run more smoothly and lack of financial resources for first contact and early-stage project developments, are significant obstacles for a more systemic cooperation. The key novelty of this initiative that wants to bridge particular actions of different countries on diaspora engagement with the focus on scientific, highly-skilled diaspora that can bring positive impact in academic community of the region and enable both scientific and economic advancement and higher competitiveness. The URGE project main objective is to establish a joint scientific diaspora network that will enable institutional framework and mechanisms to mitigate the effects of brain drain within academic community and subsequently contribute to societal development with their expertise. In pursuing this objective, we aim to: 1. Build a Joint Scientific e-Diaspora Platform: At the core of our initiative lies the establishment of a joint platform that unites the scientific diaspora within Southeast Europe. This platform will serve as a dynamic hub, mapping the diaspora and creating comprehensive expertise portfolios for each member. By utilizing the collective wisdom and diverse experiences of the diaspora, we aim to leverage their knowledge to fuel innovation and progress within the region. It will build on the individual short-lived attempts in participating countries to build a database of scientific diaspora, scaling up these efforts to joint action institutionalized within largest universities in the region. 2. Support Scientific Circulation and Science Diplomacy for Academic and Societal Development. We are dedicated to facilitating the circulation of scientists between diaspora and home countries, by organizing virtual events featuring tailored breakrooms for focused discussions based on expertise and enabling shorter stays in the region for impactful collaboration. By cultivating a culture of collaborative learning with diaspora representatives and joint mentorship program for early career researchers, we aim to equip academic community members from our countries with the skills necessary to involve in a dynamic global research environment. Additionally, our programs include seed funding initiatives aimed at catalysing joint work among scientists for applying to competitive funding, further enhancing their ability to drive innovation and make meaningful contributions to their respective fields. 3. Embed the e-Diaspora into the national scientific infrastructure: Drawing insights from the Montenegrin model, it's imperative to engage with stakeholders across country's scientific landscape to develop a comprehensive integration plan, ensuring alignment with existing infrastructure and regulatory frameworks for each country. This is a key action to ensure sustainability of the project outcomes. With targeted awareness campaigns and engagement initiatives among targeting groups, we will effectively provide durable tool for fostering collaboration and innovation, helping researchers to build new partnerships and opportunities. The project will extend its outreach to associate partners and other universities in the region through the Danube Rectors Conference and Rectors’ Forum of Southeast Europe and Western Balkans. We cooperate and coordinate our efforts with Regional Cooperation Council making our action complementary to diaspora activities of RCC and bringing synergy by focusing on scientific diaspora as invaluable resource.

Actual Achievements (EN):

Up to this stage, the URGE project has successfully delivered its core objectives by establishing a strong empirical, strategic, and advocacy foundation for improving cooperation between universities and the academic diaspora in the Danube and Southeast Europe region. The project progressed from evidence-gathering to strategic positioning, ensuring that its results are both policy-relevant and actionable. A key achievement of the project has been the completion of comprehensive preparatory research with stakeholders across all participating countries. Through a coordinated research design, the consortium conducted 90 semi-structured interviews with representatives of the academic diaspora, universities, policy institutions, and international organisations, alongside an online survey that collected 396 responses from students and early-career researchers. This work produced a solid evidence base on mobility patterns, barriers to cooperation, and institutional gaps, particularly the lack of structured postdoctoral pathways. The resulting Preliminary Research Report provided a shared analytical foundation for all partners and ensured comparability across national contexts. Building on this evidence, the project achieved a second major objective by mapping and analysing existing initiatives for scientific diaspora engagement at national and regional levels. Partners jointly identified best practices, funding mechanisms, and institutional models from across the region, resulting in a consolidated Report on Scientific Diaspora Engagement, accompanied by a policy brief. This output translated research findings into concrete recommendations, strengthening the project’s relevance for decision-makers and practitioners. A further milestone was the development of a Concept Note and Action Plan for a follow-up URGE project application. Through joint discussions—most notably at the meeting held after the Rectors’ Forum—the consortium articulated a shared vision focused on postdoctoral career development, “islands of excellence,” digital tools for diaspora engagement, and regional mobility. As a concrete result of this work, the consortium submitted an application to the European Excellence Initiative (EEI) under Horizon Europe in November, aiming to secure funding for the next implementation phase of the URGE initiative. This application represents a major step toward scaling up the project’s results and ensuring their long-term impact. In parallel, the project delivered a Funding Roadmap, identifying realistic and complementary funding opportunities at European, regional, and national levels. This roadmap provides a clear pathway for sustainability and future implementation. When unforeseen political circumstances prevented the planned final meeting in Belgrade, the consortium adapted swiftly. A major achievement was securing URGE’s inclusion on the official agenda of the Berlin Process Joint Science Conference in Ljubljana (October 2025)—a high-level regional and European forum. This represents a significant advocacy success and demonstrates the project’s growing visibility and credibility. The added value of transnational cooperation has been central to these achievements. By bringing together universities, regional platforms, and policy-oriented organisations, URGE enabled shared learning across diverse systems, amplified national findings through regional dialogue, and ensured that no single country’s constraints limited overall progress. Cooperation allowed partners to jointly address common challenges, such as academic mobility, diaspora engagement, and postdoctoral careers, while aligning them with European policy priorities.

Thematic information

Scientific cooperation Governance, partnership Education and training

Priority: (VI-B_D_4) Priority 4 - A better cooperation governance in the Danube Region

Priority specific objective: ISO6.4. Enhance institutional capacity of public authorities and stakeholders to implement macro-regional strategies and sea-basin strategies, as well as other territorial strategies (all strands)

Priority policy objective (Interreg specific objective): PO6 (ISO1) A better cooperation governance

Type of intervention: 171 Enhancing cooperation with partners both within and outside the Member State

Partners (5)

Lead Partner: Univerzitet u Beogradu

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 100052450

Department: Rectorate

Address: Studentski trg , 11000 Belgrade , Serbia

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations

Website: https://www.bg.ac.rs/

Total budget: EUR 32 550.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 26 040.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 6 510.00

Univerza v Ljubljani

Name: Univerza v Ljubljani

Department: University Office for International Relations

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 54162513

Address: Kongresni trg , 1000 Ljubljana , Slovenia

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations

Website (not verified): https://www.uni-lj.si/study/

Total budget: EUR 25 200.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 20 160.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 5 040.00

Sveučilište u Rijeci

Name: Sveučilište u Rijeci

Department: Centre for Advanced Studies

Partner’s ID if not PIC: HR64218323816

Address: Trg braće Mažuranića , 51000 Rijeka, Croatia

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations

Website: https://uniri.hr/en/home/

Total budget: EUR 22 400.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 17 920.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 4 480.00

Sveučilište u Mostaru

Name: Sveučilište u Mostaru

Department: Center for Information Technologies - SUMIT

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 4227088130005

Address: Trg hrvatskih velikana , 88000 Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations

Website: https://www.sum.ba/

Total budget: EUR 22 400.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 17 920.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 4 480.00

Javna ustanova Univerzitet Crne Gore

Name: Javna ustanova Univerzitet Crne Gore

Department: Institute for Advanced Studies

Partner’s ID if not PIC: ME3031039516

Address: Cetinjska , 81000 Podgorica , Montenegro

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations

Website: https://www.ucg.ac.me/index.php

Total budget: EUR 22 400.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 17 920.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 4 480.00

Partners map

Partners and Projects info

University of Ljubljana

Universities Revitalizing Growth and Empowerment in the Danube Region

Partners and Projects info

University of Rijeka

Universities Revitalizing Growth and Empowerment in the Danube Region

Partners and Projects info

University of Mostar

Universities Revitalizing Growth and Empowerment in the Danube Region

Partners and Projects info

University of Montenegro

Universities Revitalizing Growth and Empowerment in the Danube Region

Partners and Projects info

University of Belgrade,

Universities Revitalizing Growth and Empowerment in the Danube Region

Lead partner

Project partner

Summary

Project name (EN): Universities Revitalizing Growth and Empowerment in the Danube Region

Project acronym: URGE

Project ID: DRP0401517

Project start date: 2024-09-01

Project end date: 2025-08-31

Project status: closed

Total budget/expenditure: EUR 124 950.00

Total EU funding (amount): EUR 99 960.00

Total EU funding (co-financing rate): 80.00%

Co-financing sources:

Investments, deliverables, policy contributions

(bullets are inserted automatically and may be incorrectly placed)

Deliverables:

Report on the scientific diaspora engagement
Project application draft
URGE funding map
Preliminary research report

Contribution to wider strategies and policies:

EUStrategyDanubeRegion The URGE project significantly contributes to the European Union Strategy for the Danube Region (EUSDR) by addressing challenges across multiple priority areas. By integrating academic diaspora, fostering collaboration, and promoting knowledge sharing and capacity building, URGE aligns with EUSDR's goals of fostering a knowledge-based society (Priority Area 7), enhancing competitiveness (Priority Area 8), investing in people and skills (Priority Area 9), and strengthening institutional capacity and cooperation (Priority Area 10). Through initiatives such as mentorship, training, and technology transfer support, URGE helps bridge skill gaps, catalyze innovation ecosystems, and enhance governance mechanisms, thereby supporting the overall socio-economic development of the Danube region.
Other The URGE project aligns with Horizon Europe's objectives by promoting collaboration, knowledge exchange, and capacity building among researchers and institutions in the Danube region. Leveraging the expertise and networks of academic diaspora enhances research excellence, stimulates innovation, and fosters cross-border cooperation, thereby contributing to the advancement of Horizon Europe's goals.
URGE advances the objectives of the European Research Area (ERA) by facilitating the integration of academic diaspora into the region's research and innovation ecosystem. By promoting networking, mobility, and collaboration among researchers and institutions across borders, URGE strengthens cohesion and competitiveness in the European research landscape, in alignment with ERA's aims.
Other URGE resonates with the EU Strategic Agenda 2019-2024, emphasizing a fair and social Europe by utilizing the skills of overseas members to strengthen European science. Through knowledge exchange, capacity building, and joint research projects, URGE supports the objectives of RIS3 strategies aimed at promoting innovation and economic growth, in line with the EU Strategic Agenda's goals for fostering a fair and social Europe.
Other URGE's objectives align with the Economic and Investment Plan for the Western Balkans, prioritizing the development of human capital, including education and training. These efforts are highly relevant for the consortium members and contribute to regional stability and prosperity, supporting the Economic and Investment Plan's aims for enhancing economic growth and investment in the Western Balkans. All this leads indirectly to supporting EU accession process of Western Balkans.

Project part of European Union Macro-Regional or Sea Basin Strategy: EUSDR

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

Financing programme

2021 - 2027 Interreg VI-B Danube

Latest month of project-partner-call data publication

2026-04

No. of projects in keep.eu / Total no. of projects (% of projects in keep.eu)

138 / 138 (100%)

No. of project partnerships in keep.eu / Total no. of project partnerships (% of project partnerships in keep.eu)

1 431 / 1 431 (100%)

Notes on the data

Potential discrepancies with some project budgets, are being verified.

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Universities Revitalizing Growth and Empowerment in the Danube Region

Description

Thematic information

Partners (5)

Partners map

Summary

Investments, deliverables, policy contributions

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

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