The Leibniz Research Network Central and Eastern Europe has existed since 2015. It brings together more than twenty of the Leibniz Association’s institutes whose multidisciplinary work either focuses on Central and Eastern Europe or deals with the region in projects. The network thus constitutes the largest source of expertise on Central and Eastern Europe in German academia outside the universities. Current challenges in Eastern Europe include the expansion of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine and increasing restrictions on academic freedom in some countries. As a result, in the coming years, the network will focus on disseminating knowledge to the wider public. The network’s institutes also cooperate in the field of public policy and with respect to research, exchange and transfer activities as well as the provision of research infrastructures. Regionally, the network‘s portfolio includes the eastern, north-eastern and south-eastern member states of the European Union; the eastern and south-eastern European candidate countries; the Republic of Moldova and the states of the Caucasus and Central Asia, with which close cooperation is maintained. Research is also being conducted on Russia, even though relations with this country have been suspended since the beginning of the full-scale invasion. 

Spokesperson: Prof. Dr. Maren Röger.

Coordination: Dr. Magda Wlostowska.