The 2026 RECAS Fellowship is organized around Contested Futures: Democratic, Technological and Ecological Transformations in the Western Balkans. The Regional Network of Centers for Advanced Studies in Southeast Europe hosts fellows through the Universities of Rijeka and Belgrade, with optional co-hosts at six partner universities.
Fellows investigate competing democratic, technological, and ecological futures through research grounded in the Western Balkans. They combine scholarly work with regional exchange, policy co-creation, Future Governance Hackathons, and public presentation.
Benefits & funding
- A net monthly stipend of €1,500 for 3 to 6 months.
- Office space, institutional support, and access to local academic networks.
- Host support in Rijeka and Belgrade, with optional co-hosting in Skopje, Sarajevo, Ljubljana, Prishtina, Tirana, or Podgorica.
- Participation in weekly CAS Online Seminars, two capacity-building workshops, one week at Moise Palace on Cres Island, a regional conference, and an EU policy event.
- Fellows are responsible for their own regional travel and healthcare.
Eligibility
- Applicants must hold a PhD or be advanced-stage PhD candidates.
- Fluent English is required.
- Applicants from humanities, social sciences, and arts disciplines may apply.
- Research focused on Southeast Europe receives priority; the call states no hard nationality or residency restriction.
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Application process
- 1Review the three 2026 thematic pillars and confirm that the proposed project addresses the call.
- 2Complete the online form with personal, contact, PhD, institutional, and research-field information.
- 3Enter the project title, summary, and intended research description.
- 4Provide contact details for two senior academic referees, list up to three publications, add a personal statement, and submit by 30 September 2026.
Program timeline
Application deadline
30 September 2026
Expected fellowship start
Mid-November 2026