Below you will find a selection of publications and policy briefings produced by the Inspireurope+ project (2022 to 2025) and its predecessor, Inspireurope (2019 to 2022). The Inspireurope+ national-level actions report 2024 gathers experiences of 15 national-level initatives in Europe supporting researchers at risk. The Inspireurope mapping report outlines existing support measures in Europe for researchers at risk. Inspireurope policy briefings recommend improvements to existing measures, and make suggestions for new support. Inspireurope’s publications and policy briefings are the result of engagement with a wide range of stakeholders, including researchers at risk, higher education institutions and research organisations with experience in hosting or employing researchers at risk, and NGOs, networks and other projects dedicated to supporting researchers at risk.
Inspireurope+ Policy Paper: Facilitating the Reception of Researchers at Risk through Institutional-State Cooperation
This policy briefing documents the progressive and innovative Memorandum of Understanding agreed between Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTh) as Chair of SAR Greece and the Greek Ministry of Migration. The MoU establishes a semi-formal framework of cooperation designed to expedite and simplify procedures related to visa issuance, residence permits, and employment authorization for third country researchers who (a) have been officially nominated by a reputable organisation (e.g. Scholars at Risk) and (b) have been offered a temporary research or teaching position at a Greek university.
Inspireurope+ Briefing on Transnational Repression and Academic Freedom
This policy briefing addresses the growing threat of transnational repression to researchers at risk and academic freedom. Transnational repression refers to tactics used by governments to extend their reach beyond their borders to target individuals and/or communities living abroad as well as external organisations and institutions. These tactics—ranging from digital surveillance, harassment, and threats to physical harm—undermine a researcher’s sense of safety, restrict freedom of expression, and stifle critical research. This briefing makes a series of recommendations to European governments as well as higher education institutions aimed at addressing this emerging and evolving threat to ensure the safety and protection of researchers at risk as well as defense of academic freedom.
Inspireurope+ Recommendations: Monitoring, Assessing and Reporting Academic Freedom and Researchers at Risk
Inspireurope+ calls for greater monitoring and reporting of attacks on researchers and academic freedom. While existing initiatives provide important insights, expansion of monitoring efforts is essential to develop a more comprehensive understanding of the volume and nature of threats faced. This briefing makes specific recommendations to EU Missions on how they can play a key role in support of researchers at risk and defense of academic freedom.
Researchers at Risk: An Update on National-Level Actions in Europe 2024
In April 2024, the Inspireurope+ project published a Researchers at Risk: An Update on National-Level Actions in Europe 2024 led by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation’s Philipp Schwartz Initiative and the PAUSE Programme. The report captures the experiences of 15 national-level initiatives in Europe supporting researchers at risk and documents the key lessons learned . The aim is to share knowledge and insights between those already involved in these efforts, and to encourage the development of new national-level initiatives.
Inspireurope+ Recommendation: National Fellowship Schemes for Researchers at Risk
The Inspireurope+ consortium encourages national-level funders, ministries, national agencies, networks and other stakeholders to establish dedicated fellowship schemes for researchers at risk. Further information and guidance in this briefing.
Inspireurope+ Submission to Horizon Europe Consultation, February 2023
In February 2023, the Inspireurope+ project submitted recommendations to the European Commission in response to a public consultation on the European Research and Innovation Framework Programmes 2014-2027.
Inspireurope Recommendations: Expanding Opportunities in Europe for Researchers at Risk
In April 2022, the Inspireurope project published policy recommendations for improving support in Europe for researchers at risk. The report was led by the European University Association.
Researchers at Risk: National-Level Actions in Europe
In August 2021, the Inspireurope project published Researchers at Risk: National-Level Actions in Europe, led by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation’s Philipp Schwartz Initiative and the PAUSE Programme. The report gathers the experiences of 14 national-level initiatives in Europe supporting researchers at risk. The aim is to share knowledge and insights between those already involved in these efforts, and to encourage the development of new national-level initiatives.
Researchers at Risk in MSCA: Preliminary assessment of current obstacles & related suggestions
In November 2019, the Inspireurope project undertook a preliminary assessment of the EU-funded Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Individual Fellowships programme in order to identify obstacles facing researchers at risk in accessing the scheme. The project’s findings and related suggestions are provided in this short briefing.
Recommendation for an EU Fellowship Scheme for Researchers at Risk
In January 2021, the Inspireurope project put forward a recommendation for a dedicated EU fellowship scheme for researchers at risk. In addition to providing urgent support to individual scholars, dedicated EU fellowships for researchers at risk would serve to publicly highlight the crucial role of researchers and academic freedom in democratic societies.
Researchers at Risk: Mapping Europe’s Support
In November 2020 the Inspireurope project published Researchers at Risk: Mapping Europe’s Response, led by the European University Association, documenting the the excellent work already underway in Europe for researchers at risk, as well as gaps and opportunities for future support.
About Inspireurope+
Inspireurope+ is a multi-partner initiative to coordinate and improve support in Europe for researchers at risk. Researchers at risk include researchers, scholars, scientists at all stages of their research careers, who are experiencing threats to their life, liberty, or research career, and those who are displaced because of such threats.
Inspireurope+ Partners
Project partners and associate partners include leading organisations in the provision of support to researchers at risk.
Inspireurope+ Webinars
Please find below recordings of webinars and other online events that we hope will be useful to researchers at risk and prospective employers and host institutions in Europe.