Consortium

Partners

FONDAZIONE BRUNO KESSLER (FBK) - Coordinator

Fondazione Bruno Kessler (FBK) is a leading Italian research institute with over fifty years of history, dedicated to advancing high-quality research that generates both societal and market impact. Structured around two scientific hubs and seven specialized research centers, FBK employs more than 410 researchers and operates seven laboratories and two specialized libraries. Its mission is to deliver excellence in science and technology, with a strong focus on interdisciplinary approaches and practical applications. By fostering collaborations with academic institutions, corporate partners, and public organizations at both national and international levels, FBK extends its innovation capacity and strengthens its role in global research networks. This openness to cooperation and knowledge exchange not only drives scientific progress but also supports local communities and economies through the transfer of technologies and expertise. With its blend of long-standing tradition, cutting-edge research, and commitment to real-world challenges, FBK continues to act as a bridge between knowledge creation and tangible societal benefits.

UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI TRENTO (UNITN)

The University of Trento, located in the heart of the Italian Alps, is an internationally recognized institution of excellence: it stands out for its innovation in research and the high quality of its teaching. With a vibrant and multicultural academic community, it offers a stimulating and inclusive environment that fosters the personal and professional development of students. Close collaboration with businesses, research institutes and international organizations guarantees students internship opportunities and research projects that enrich their educational path. Furthermore, the University of Trento is immersed in a unique natural context, offering numerous outdoor activities and a high quality of life in an exceptional natural environment

UNIVERSITY OF NORTHUMBRIA AT NEWCASTLE (UNN)

Northumbria University is a research-intensive institution headquartered in Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom, with strategic campuses in London and Amsterdam. Recognised as one of the UK’s leading modern universities, Northumbria delivers excellence in research, education, knowledge exchange, and enterprise. With a strong focus on applied research and societal relevance, Northumbria operates at the intersection of academic excellence and social engagement. It ranks among the UK’s top 25 institutions for research power and graduate employability, and was recently named Modern University of the Year 2025 by The Times and The Sunday Times. Its key research strengths include Digital Transformation, Health & Wellbeing, Sustainability, Smart Urban Systems, and Inclusive Societies, areas aligned with global policy priorities and future social and market needs. Northumbria’s expert teams comprise highly qualified academics, researchers, and industry professionals with deep expertise across technical, scientific, and policy-driven domains. The institution’s track record includes strategic partnerships with regional, national and international organisations.

VRIJE UNIVERSITEIT BRUSSEL (VUB)

Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) is an internationally oriented public university at the heart of Europe, in Brussels. VUB focuses on research that addresses societal challenges, combining in-depth expertise with an interdisciplinary approach. The university’s mission is to contribute in an active and engaged way to the creation of a better society by delivering both high quality education and research.

VUB is organised into nine faculties spread across four campuses in the Brussels Capital-Region. The Large Research Group on Law, Science, Technology and Society (LSTS) is an independent entity of the Faculty of Law and Criminology. LSTS has earned international recognition as a centre of excellence in the area of technology regulation, bringing together an interdisciplinary group of distinguished scholars, established researchers, and senior practitioners. Main areas of research at LSTS include privacy and data protection issues relating to new and emerging technologies, the impact of advanced technologies and methods of surveillance on fundamental rights, the changing nature of law (digital legal theory), and the role of law in relation to science, technology and politics. Over the years, LSTS has witnessed the emergence of various collaborative research groups and networks, including the Health and Ageing Law Lab (HALL), the Cyber and Data Security Lab (CDSL), the Brussels

SYNYO GmbH (SYNYO)

SYNYO GmbH is a highly dynamic enterprise focusing on research, innovation and technology located in Vienna, Austria. SYNYO explores and develops novel methods, technologies and solutions in various domains tackling societal, political, ecological and economical challenges. SYNYO analyses the impact of emerging technologies from different angles and from an interdisciplinary perspective. The team at SYNYO consists of highly skilled employees specialized in various scientific and technical fields like Social Sciences, ICT & Technology, Safety & Security, Energy & Sustainability, Urban Future, Smart Health Digital Systems and Smart Technologies.

The multinational team of SYNYO consists of motivated employees working on national and international projects. This interdisciplinary team is specialized in various social and technical fields, including research studies, requirements analyses, application design, software engineering, data analytics, and information visualisation. This technical expertise is applied to tackle contemporary challenges in various disciplines such as big/open data research, digital futures, e-health, citizen inclusion, and smart technologies. The research processes and proprietary methodologies are designed to convert complex information into clear and precise data for developing constructive actions.

EURO-ARAB FOUNDATION FOR HIGHER STUDIES (FUNDEA)

The Euro-Arab Foundation (FUNDEA) is a highly specialized institution that works within the fields of cooperation, education, training and research, creating a space for dialogue and collaboration between the countries of the European Union and the Arab League as well as between the local, regional, national and European social and institutional actors and its Arab and Islamic communities’ agents on the other. It is a non-for-profit research, education and cultural institution that has its origins in a European Parliament resolution of March 30th 1984.

The Foundation is entrusted with producing and promoting cultural, scientific and academic relations between Europe and the Arab World, throughout the dissemination of scientific and humanistic knowledge produced by the Foundation itself and by universities, research centres and civil society organizations, in order to contribute to the reinforcement of dialogue. FUNDEA carries out high-level research and advanced training that focuses mainly on democratic governance, security, intercultural and religious dialogue as well as diversity management, migration flows and migrant’s integration, or prevention of violent extremism and radicalization that lead to terrorism by promoting mutual understanding, multicultural peaceful co-existence and diversity richness as fundamentals for preventing and combating racism, xenophobia and other forms of intolerance.

The research and projects department of the Euro-Arab Foundation for Higher Studies, focuses on the development of research and transfer programs and activities aimed at promoting democratic rights and values, peaceful coexistence and social cohesion, valuing wealth. diversity, the processes of inclusion and social integration or the defense of the rights of minorities and vulnerable groups. The Department is actively working on developing different research activities, products, services, and training and transfer activities that meet the needs of front-line professionals in the public and private sectors across Europe.

ANDALUSIAN PUBLIC FOUNDATION ANDALUSIAN STUDIES CENTER (CENTRA)

CENTRA is a public research foundation affiliated with the Regional Government of Andalusia (Junta de Andalucía). It supports evidence-based policymaking through applied research and works to strengthen the connection between academic knowledge, public administration, and social actors.

Its work focuses on key areas such as social inclusion, gender equality, migration, employment, civic engagement, and education. CENTRA leads both qualitative and quantitative research, including regional public opinion surveys and large-scale studies on social realities.

With a multidisciplinary team, CENTRA collaborates with universities, public institutions, and civil society organisations at regional and national levels. Its role as a public body allows it to translate research into practical tools and strategies that inform and improve public policies.

CENTRA is also active in public dissemination through publications, events, and media partnerships. This position makes it a strong partner for EU-funded projects seeking to connect research with real-world policy and community impact.

SABANCI UNIVERSITY (SU)

Sabancı University (SU), a private foundation university established in 1996, is internationally recognized as one of Turkey’s most innovative and research‐oriented institutions. It has achieved strong global rankings: in the 2025 Times Higher Education World University Rankings SU is placed in the 351–400 band (the highest-ranked Turkish university), and in the QS World University Rankings SU is #516 for 2025 and #404 for 2026. In subject rankings (THE 2025), SU leads nationally in Social Sciences (201–250 band, highest in Türkiye) and is in the 301–400 band for both Engineering & Technology and for Business & Economics. SU’s academic structure comprises three main faculties – Engineering and Natural Sciences, Arts and Social Sciences, and the Sabancı Business School – operating under a unique, interdisciplinary, non‐departmental model. These three faculties together offer about 13 undergraduate and 41 graduate programs across the sciences, engineering, humanities, social sciences and business. Sabancı University also has a very strong research and innovation record: it has the highest research project budget of any private university in Turkey, and hosts several major interdisciplinary research centers (notably the Sabancı University Nanotechnology Research and Application Center – SUNUM, the Istanbul Policy Center – IPC, and the Istanbul International Center for Energy and Climate – IICEC). Its modern campus in the Tuzla district of Istanbul covers roughly 1.26 million square meters and includes state-of-the-art laboratories and facilities. Taken together, SU’s high international standing, interdisciplinary education model, robust research output and advanced infrastructure underscore its profile as a strong and attractive partner for European research and education collaborations in the EU context.

CENTRE FOR SOCIAL INNOVATION (CSI)

Center for Social Innovation (CSI) is a Research and Development organization, which focuses on fostering social innovation that can bring about a positive change to local, national, regional, and global entities. These entities include but are not limited to governments, local administrative agencies, non-for-profit agencies, commercial entities, and educational institutions. The CSI team is composed of open-minded, fully equipped researchers, entrepreneurs, project managers, trainers, and Information Technology specialists. CSI encompasses the capability and capacity to identify social needs, design and implement adjusted initiatives, and provide for sustainable growth. The CSI team's areas of expertise are in the fields of traditional education and e-learning, entrepreneurship, start-ups, innovation, creativity, negotiations, IP advisory services, social responsibility, business advisory solutions, data analytics, information technologies, project management, project evaluation services, product validation, training and computer gaming. CSI draws know-how and skills from its wide global network, which includes academic institutions, IT companies, public services, international organizations, start-ups, and public services.

THE INSTITUTE FOR ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT OF SERBIA (IVI)

The Institute for Artificial Intelligence of Serbia (IVI) is a leading research and development institution focused on applying artificial intelligence (AI) across diverse fields. Its mission is to drive societal and economic progress through innovation powered by advanced technologies.

Established to strengthen AI research, education, and implementation in Serbia and the wider region, IVI connects academia, industry, and the public sector with the goal of developing sustainable solutions to global challenges.

Bringing together multidisciplinary teams of experts from computer science, engineering, social sciences, and natural sciences, IVI develops and deploys innovative AI solutions across various industries. The Institute’s research is organized into five research groups:

Human-Computer Interaction
AI in Healthcare & Lifescience
Visual Computing & Perception
Green AI
Intelligent Production Systems

Through its research initiatives, IVI explores key areas of AI, including deep learning, natural language processing, machine learning, computer vision, and data analytics.

A core goal of the Institute is to contribute to the development of technologies that solve real-world social and environmental challenges. IVI collaborates with universities, government agencies, the private sector, and international organizations to apply AI in areas such as healthcare, education, agriculture, energy, and environmental protection.

UNIVERSITY OF APPLIED SCIENCES FOR PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION AND LEGAL AFFAIRS IN BAVARIA (HfoeD)

The Hochschule für den öffentlichen Dienst (HfoeD) is in charge of training and educating Police students for their career on professional and executive levels for the Police Enforcement Service. HfoeD teaches future higher ranked police officers in various disciplines including psychology, political science and social sciences. The inter-disciplinary research team of the HfoeD examines various domains relevant for policing including cybercrime, hate speech, radicalisation, terrorism among others. Security research for and via the police strengthens everyday networking in police practice with training and further education, in other words integrating theory and practice. The research team at HfoeD provides scientific knowledge on relevant topics in the field (i.e. security research, crime prevention or crime research) to police or institutions of the security structure and aids in the design of further training courses and seminars and the mediation of contacts. In addition, the research team supports police and security authorities by providing scientific services in solving day-to-day problems.

THE GOVERNORSHIP OF ANKARA (AG)

The Ankara Governorship(AG) is the local public authority of Türkiye’s capital, established in 1923. It coordinates a wide spectrum of public services across education, health, security, environment, public works, culture, tourism, agriculture, youth and sports, social policies, ICT, and migration. Through its comprehensive directorate network, it ensures high standards in both formal and non-formal education and provides lifelong learning and vocational training opportunities for citizens of Ankara.

To strengthen international cooperation and EU alignment, the Governorship founded the EU and Foreign Affairs Unit on 23 November 2010. The Unit:

supports public administrations and civil society in Ankara in line with EU priorities,
provides guidance and consultancy on EU funding and project design,
disseminates grant calls and encourages quality project development,
contributes to policy uptake and scaling of good practices.

The Governorship has experience in managing and contributing to national and EU-funded projects, including Erasmus+, Horizon Europe, TÜBİTAK, and Development Agency programmes. It actively engages in dissemination, stakeholder coordination, field implementation, training, and impact evaluation.

CITY COUNCIL OF MURCIA (MURCIA)

Murcia City Council is the local authority responsible for the governance, administration, and development of the city of Murcia, the seventh largest municipality in Spain. The City Council provides a wide range of public services including urban planning, public safety, environmental protection, social inclusion, economic development, and citizen participation. With a strong commitment to innovation, sustainability, and European collaboration, Murcia City Council actively participates in European programmes and projects aimed at improving urban life, social cohesion, and public administration.

Among its various departments, the Local Police of Murcia plays a central role in guaranteeing public safety, traffic control, citizen protection, and community engagement. In recent years, the city has become a benchmark among Spanish municipalities in the field of European security and innovation, thanks to the creation of the European Projects Department of the Local Police of Murcia, a pioneering unit in Spain within a local police force.

This specialized department has participated in over 60 project proposals and is currently involved in more than 10 active EU-funded projects, covering areas such as crime prevention, hate speech monitoring, human trafficking, radicalisation, community policing, and digital transformation.

In the ECLIPSE project, the European Projects Department of the Local Police of Murcia will play an active role in several key work packages, contributing as a Law Enforcement Authority (LEA). Its participation includes:

Providing field-based insights and operational needs for the development of the ECLIPSE tools and methodologies.
Participating in pilot activities, testing and validating innovative tools and practices against hate speech and disinformation.
Engaging in training programmes, co-creation of educational content, and awareness-raising activities.

Contributing to ethics, legal and security assessments, and supporting dissemination at local and national levels.

CESIE ENTE DEL TERZO SETTORE (CESIE ETS)

CESIE, an Italian non-governmental organisation based in Palermo, has extensive experience in addressing radicalisation, extremism, and hate speech through various European projects with a staff of 120 people. Our initiatives focus on community engagement, digital tools, and inter-community dialogue to prevent and counteract these issues.

Examples of projects and initiatives:

PARTICIPATION - Analizying and Preventing Estremism Via Participation (Horizon 2020: https://cesie.org/en/project/participation/)
AMALTHEA - EnAbling a Model-driven deep understAnding of the roLe of gender Towards a Holistic solution against Extremism and radicalization Activities (Horizon Europe, starts in SET/OCT 2025)
ECLIPSE - PrEventing and Combating onLine and offline hate speech and dIsinformation through multidisciplinary innovation, education, and awareneSs in Europe (Horizon Europe, starts in SET/OCT 2025)
Hatedemics - This initiative developed an AI-based platform to monitor and combat online hate speech and disinformation. The platform aimed to support organisations, media professionals, public authorities, and youth in preventing and addressing online discrimination and extremist narratives.

- SafeNet – Monitoring and Reporting for Safer Online Environments. SafeNet aimed to apply a comprehensive and intersectional approach to prevention and the fight against intolerance, racism, and xenophobia online, through continuous monitoring and reporting of hate speech content to IT companies and responsible authorities, as well as awareness raising through regular advocacy with social media companies.

Through these projects, CESIE has developed a comprehensive approach to combating radicalisation, extremism, and hate speech, combining community engagement, digital innovation, and intergroup dialogue to foster a more inclusive and resilient society.

Moreover, CESIE is a part of the INACH, which stands for the International Network Against Cyber Hate. Founded in 2002, INACH is a leading EU-based network dedicated to combating online hate speech through a comprehensive approach that includes monitoring, content removal, education, international cooperation, advocacy, and the use of advanced technology.

STOP HATE UK (STOPHATE)

Stop Hate UK Stop Hate UK is one of the leading national organisations working to challenge all forms of Hate Crime and discrimination, based on any aspect of an individual’s identity. Stop Hate UK provides independent, confidential and accessible reporting and support for victims, witnesses and third parties

Our mission

To combat prejudice and Hate
To support those affected
To educate towards a Hate free society

Our vision

A world which is free from hate, harassment, and discrimination.

Core Values

Empathy, Equity, Empowerment, Inclusion, Justice

Core Services

24/7 Hate Crime Reporting Helpline: Independent, confidential support for victims, witnesses, and third parties.
Text, Email, Chat & App Services: Multi-channel access to ensure no one is left unsupported.
Education & Outreach: Interactive workshops and campaigns that raise awareness about hate crime, tackle prejudice and promote tolerance, including partnerships with schools, communities, local authorities, corporates and third sector organisations.
Advocacy & Campaigning: Influencing public policy and raising awareness through national campaigns, press, and digital outreach.
Corporate & Community Partnerships: Supporting workplaces and local authorities with training, strategy, and inclusivity initiatives.

YOUTH FOR EXCHANGE AND UNDERSTANDING (YEU)

Youth for Exchange and Understanding (YEU) is an international Non-Governmental Youth Organization established in 1986. It is a member of the European Youth Forum (YFJ) and Lifelong Learning Platform (LLLP) in Brussels and considered as a European level non-governmental youth organization by the European Union and the Council of Europe.

YEU’s mission is to promote peace and to increase tolerance and awareness between different countries, cultures and traditions, and to promote a greater level of comprehension. The mission of the organization is achieved through the development of youth exchanges, seminars, conventions, meetings, study visits and training courses based on the principles of non-formal education, experiential learning and self-directed learning. In addition to that, YEU constantly analyzes the needs of young people all over Europe and aims to address them through the projects it organizes. YEU also pays a lot of attention in creating youth policies, participating in important youth events on European level and producing educational manuals.

At the moment the network includes 37 different youth organizations from 27 European and neighboring countries.

THE INTERNATIONAL CENTRE FOR MIGRATION POLICY DEVELOPMENT (ICMPD)

The International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) is an international organisation with 21 Member States and over 500 staff, active in more than 90 countries. Founded in 1993 and headquartered in Vienna, ICMPD holds UN observer status and cooperates with over 715 partners, including EU institutions and UN agencies. Its work is funded by Member States, the European Commission, the UN, and bilateral donors.

ICMPD’s activities cover key regions such as Pan-Africa, Eastern Europe, Central Asia, the Mediterranean, Silk Routes, Türkiye and the Western Balkans. With expertise bridging theory and practice, ICMPD provides evidence-based insights and supports policymakers with critical groundwork, while engaging directly through capacity building.

The Research Unit, established in 1997, advances knowledge on migration-related issues and addresses the growing need for policy-relevant research. Its work focuses on four areas: Migration Governance and Policy-making; Safe Migration, Displacement and Protection; Migration, Integration and Social Cohesion; and Migration Trends and Dynamics. The Research Unit’s work is characterised by empirical, interdisciplinary studies with practical and impactful outputs, shared through ICMPD projects, publications and partnerships. Its resources serve policymakers, academics, practitioners, NGOs and journalists worldwide.

CREATIVE WORKERS (CREW)

CREW is a pioneering non-profit arts organization with a long-standing practice at the intersection of art, science, and technology. For over two decades, CREW has explored immersive media - and VR in particular - as a performative medium, often integrating live motion capture to merge physical presence with virtual environments. The collective has a strong track record in European research and innovation, having partnered in numerous funded projects across Horizon Europe, FP7, and Creative Europe, where it consistently brings artistic experimentation into dialogue with cutting-edge technological development.

MINDS & SPARKS GMBH (M&S)

MINDS & SPARKS (M&S) is an independent, non-profit research organisation based in Vienna, Austria fostering science, innovation and technology to address major challenges and develop new methods and solutions for a better society. M&S creates strong connections between science and society using interdisciplinary approaches, promoting best practices and raising awareness on research and innovation achievements. Furthermore, the organisation focuses on improving the sustainability of research and innovation outcomes especially of public funded projects to ensure that spent resources lead to permanent positive impacts for the society as a whole.

M&S is formed by a team of highly skilled personnel which holds many years of experience in designing, leading and implementing research and advisory projects and it hosts development consultants and technical engineers which have broad knowledge along the software development cycle. The organisation is involved with various research and innovation stakeholder networks including research organisations, academic institutions, civil societies, NGOs, governments, and industry in various sectors such as safety and security, health and care, energy and environment, or information and communication technologies.