Effects of Structural and Social Change on Municipalities in Germany and the Baltic States (CliMBinG)

The common goal of the project is to investigate the effects of social and structural change on municipalities in Germany and the Baltic States in a transfer-oriented and interdisciplinary way, to establish a transnational network of science and innovation in order to prepare proposals (an application strategy) in suitable EU research programmes solving urgent municipal challenges. The broader topic of the proposed project is intended to demonstrate its usefulness for education, business and administration. The title also points out that the great diversity and very different structures in these regions mean that there can be no uniform answer to the stated challenges.

1. Organisation of a kick-off meeting (not less than a full day) “From local questions to a common EU project” including an introduction to German language and culture, interdisciplinary research presentations, open space / creativity and research group sessions (at Harz UAS in Wernigerode)
2. Development of research projects in the research groups via online meetings / conferences taking the needs of municipal stakeholders into account including partnering activities (regional / local site visits, online meetings)
3. Applications for research funding: seeking potential EU funding programmes for the research projects to be developed, if necessary adaptation to the funding programmes, submitting grant applications, developing of an application strategy
4. Organisation of a final seminar (not less than a full day) including guest lectures / hands-on presentations for students and municipal stakeholders as guest listeners to the CliMBinG topic as well as short project proposal presentations (pitching) and discussions (e.g. as proposal clinic), lessons learned with the core project team and relevant project stakeholders as future project partners (at RTA in Rezekne, Latvia)

Direct: Project core team and support

• researchers / non-research staff from Latvia (RTA), Lithuania (MRU), Estonia (TUT) and Germany (Harz UAS), who are directly involved in the CliMBinG project – approx. 24

Indirect: Project stakeholders as e.g. potential participants in the planned meetings, discussions, partners in the EU project(s) to be planned (approx. 100)

• Students from the participating scientific institutions as junior scientists and potential employees in the projects to be planned as well as beneficiaries of future joint study projects / programmes
• Other universities / universities of Applied Sciences / scientific community / research institutes
• Politicians / local governments
• Municipalities – city councils, administrations, public utilities, Schools
• Companies and their employees (especially SMEs – in the Tourism, ICT, Environment sector)
• Associations, voluntary actors and citizens
• Tourists

General Public (Other parts of the society in Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Germany which are informed about (the results of) the planned events and EU projects to be planned through publications, university communication channels (research marketing activities) and media.