Hub Updates: Strengthening the Team

On the project management side, we are pleased to introduce Emina Kapetanovic, Project Manager of the EUKH framework contract. With 18 years of expertise in project management at NTU International (Denmark), she has a strong background in managing high-impact projects in the EU and developing countries. Her proficiency in digitalisation and organisational strategy will be key in ensuring the success for the EUKH. Emina’s commitment to innovation, efficiency, and quality assurance reflects her dedication to delivering transformative solutions across diverse and challenging environments.  

We are excited to unveil a crucial digital tool of the Hub: the EUKH Expert Database! This innovative resource is designed to streamline collaboration and knowledge-sharing by connecting experts across a wide range of fields relevant to the EUKH's mission. You can find more details on the database below. Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to enhance digital solutions that empower our work in the P/CVE field! 

On the research front, we are making exciting progress with Professor Ioannis Armakolas, who is responsible for steering Knowledge Hub research activities. With over 16 years of experience in preventing and countering radicalisation, Professor Armakolas brings invaluable expertise to the team. His impressive background includes serving as a policy expert for the RAN in the Western Balkans and leading two HORIZON 2020 projects since 2022. These projects focus on researching extremism in the gaming ecosystem (GEMS Project) and radicalisation in North Macedonia (PAVE Project), further enhancing the EUKH's research capabilities. Professor Armakolas is finalising the evaluation of 70 applications received for members of the Research Committee, working closely with DG HOME. The call, which closed on November 8, 2024, attracted diverse expert profiles, reflecting the growing interest in P/CVE research across Member States. The Research Committee will comprise 15 highly qualified experts in radicalisation and extremism research, providing strategic advice and guiding research efforts within the EU context. As the evaluation concludes, we are eager to contact selected candidates soon, marking a new chapter in EUKH's research endeavours.  

We have also wrapped up our call for Thematic Panel leaders, and the response has been overwhelming, with over 140 applications received for the seven panels! These panels will be at the heart of the EUKH work, covering crucial priority areas like Ideologies and Conspiracy Narratives; Prisons Rehabilitation and Reintegration; New Technologies and the Online Dimension; Local Dimension, Polarisation, and Resilience Building; Lone Actors and Mental Health Issues; Management of Foreign Terrorist Fighters, Volunteers, and Their Families; and Global and Geopolitical Factors and Undesirable Foreign Influences. We are now in finalising the evaluation of applications and will be reaching out to successful candidates before Christmas. Stay tuned for the launch of these dynamic panels next year – they promise to be hubs of collaboration and innovation in the P/CVE field! 

The EU Knowledge Hub’s work on strategic communications (Stratcomms), led by Javier Ruipérez Canales, has made significant progress in advancing P/CVE initiatives across Europe. As the Strategic Communications Manager for the EUKH, Javier brings 14 years of expertise in preventing radicalisation and violent extremism, particularly in prison and probation settings. His past role as a RAN Policy Support Strategic Communication Expert and trainer in "Improving government presence online" in research papers, Tailor-Made support and trainings enhances the Hub's capacity to foster collaboration between key stakeholders.The Hub emphasises a multilevel, multiagency approach to counter radicalisation, recently hosting strategic communications meetings on crucial topics like the impact of the conflict in the Middle East in Europe and integrating communications into local P/CVE efforts. These initiatives support Member States in developing effective P/CVE Stratcomms, fostering cooperation, and empowering communities to challenge extremist narratives. Future activities, including training programmes, research, and Tailor-Made Support Services, aim to equip Member States with the necessary tools to build community resilience and counter emerging threats in our evolving informational landscape. Javier's expertise will be instrumental in guiding these efforts and ensuring their success.