A new COST Action, Networking European Security Knowledge (NetSec), in which IRMO participates, has been approved. IRMO’s senior advisor in the Department for International Economic and Political Relations, Senada Šelo Šabić, PhD, serves on the Action’s Management Committee. Launched on 10 October 2025 and running until October 2029, the Action addresses the challenge of fragmentation within the European scientific and analytical knowledge base in the field of security studies. NetSec aims to create an inclusive, multidisciplinary network that integrates diverse perspectives on European defence and security. It promotes the linking of different national and local expert communities, bridges the gap between academia and policy-makers, and empowers a new generation of security experts. The NetSec Action is implemented by a consortium of research institutions from around twenty European countries. The Action is coordinated by the Center for International Studies (CERI) at Sciences Po in Paris (France).
The COST programme finances networking of research teams through so-called COST Actions. The NetSec Action encourages enhanced cooperation in the field of security studies. Numerous activities are planned for participants in the NetSec Action and will be implemented over the four-year duration of the project. These activities include interdisciplinary research collaborations, the organisation of annual international conferences, thematic workshops with security policy decision-makers, the implementation of a mentoring programme for early-career researchers, and the organisation of a summer school. The Action places particular emphasis on the geographical and disciplinary diversity of the experts involved, as well as on balanced gender and generational representation in the field of security studies. The Action is structured around three core objectives: (1) establishing an inclusive knowledge-sharing network; (2) translating research findings into public policy recommendations; and (3) developing skills, methods and tools to overcome fragmentation in security studies. These objectives are pursued through four interrelated working groups focusing on: network governance and coordination; development of an analytical framework; tool development and training delivery; and the promotion of inclusiveness, stakeholder engagement and dissemination of results.
Participants and Partners in the Action
The NetSec Action is implemented by a consortium of research institutions from around twenty European countries. The Action is coordinated by the Center for International Studies (CERI) at Sciences Po in Paris (France). Other participating institutions come from the following countries:
- Bosnia and Herzegovina: Faculty of Criminal Justice, Criminology and Security Studies, University of Sarajevo
- Bulgaria: Policy and Citizens’ Observatory (Sofia)
- Cyprus: University of Nicosia
- Czech Republic: Institute of International Relations (Prague)
- Denmark: University of Southern Denmark (Odense)
- France: Sciences Po, Center for International Studies (CERI) (Paris) – coordinating institution
- Greece: University of Macedonia (Thessaloniki)
- Croatia: Institute for Development and International Relations – IRMO (Zagreb)
- Italy: Italian Institute for International Political Studies (Istituto Affari Internazionali – IAI, Rome)
- Lithuania: Vilnius University
- Hungary: Corvinus University of Budapest
- Moldova: University of Chişinău
- Netherlands: Leiden University
- Germany: Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich
- Poland: Akademia WSB (Dąbrowa Górnicza)
- Portugal: NOVA School of Law, NOVA University Lisbon (CEDIS)
- Serbia: Faculty of Political Sciences, University of Belgrade
- Slovakia: Matej Bel University (Banská Bystrica)
- Slovenia: Institute for Corporate Security Studies (Ljubljana)
- Sweden: Swedish Defence University (Stockholm)
- Turkey: Bilkent University (Ankara)
- United Kingdom: Lancaster University
All activities are funded by the COST programme. Through its internal communication channels, IRMO will ensure that its researchers and research assistants are informed in a timely manner about all events and opportunities within the NetSec Action, enabling them to actively engage in the planned activities.
Benefits for Researchers Participating in the COST Action
Participation in the activities of the NetSec COST Action offers a range of opportunities for researchers, particularly early-career scholars:
- Networking with colleagues from a wide range of European countries, enabling the expansion of professional networks and the establishment of new collaborations.
- Continuous exchange of knowledge, experience and examples of good practice among network members.
- Participation in specialised educational events organised by the Action, such as summer schools, thematic workshops and mentoring programmes.
- Increased visibility through presentations at international conferences, involvement in joint publications, and the promotion of research results at the level of the COST network.
- Opportunities for early-career researchers to accelerate their professional development through mentoring by experienced experts and participation in international working groups, gaining experience in international project work.
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