About

The European Union faces mounting challenges in safeguarding economic security and well-being, exacerbated by sluggish growth, the climate crisis, and intensifying geopolitical competition. The traditional EU economic model, based on market integration, regulatory harmonization, andmultilateral engagement, is under increasing strain. Internally, economic divergences, social inequalities, and nationalism threaten cohesion, while externally, protectionist tendencies and theerosion of multilateral norms undermine the EU’s global role. Addressing these crises requires rethinking EU growth strategies beyond conventional approaches like deepening marketintegration and external trade promotion.

The Centre of Excellence EUFutures will serve as a laboratory for analyzing the roots of the EU’sgrowth issue and developing innovative, sustainable, and inclusive economic pathways. By engaging academics, students, policymakers, business leaders, and civil society, the Centre will promote an interdisciplinary approach to EU economic policy-making. Upholding core EU values, EUFutures aims to shape a more just and inclusive Europe.

The Centre will pursue three key objectives:

1. Advancing Excellence in EU Studies through an interdisciplinary research agenda focusedon a) unpacking the foundations of EU growth; b) learning from other countries’ Experiences; and c) imagining EU growth futures, formulating forward-looking strategies that take into account the major transformative challenges of our time, from the green and digital transitions to the management of geopolitical competition
2. Promoting Excellence in Teaching EU Studies by incorporating research into new teaching modules, a policy design lab, and a public lecture series at the University of Bologna.
3. Fostering Dialogue between Academia and Society through knowledge co-production workshops, and high-level policy exchange dialogues.

Located in Bologna, a city with a strong tradition of civic engagement, economic dynamism, and aninnovation-driven academic ecosystem, EUFutures will leverage its unique social, economic, and intellectual environment. With the University of Bologna providing a robust institutionalframework, EUFutures is set to become a leading hub for research and policy innovation, fostering meaningful exchanges between researchers, policymakers, businesses, and civilsociety to shape the EU’s economic future. 

EUFutures is funded under the call ERASMUS-JMO-2025-HEI-TCH-RSCH, topic ERASMUS-JMO-2025-COE, part of the Erasmus+ programme. Managed by the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA), the call focuses on projects related to higher education, teaching, and research within the framework of Jean Monnet activities, particularly the establishment and development of Centres of Excellence. It aims to promote excellence in EU studies and foster academic research, teaching, and outreach on European integration topics.