The aim of the CAT initiative is to foster networks of excellent early-career researchers dedicated to devising new ideas to understand and to tackle current or emerging societal challenges. Although the programme has a strong focus on the societal relevance of the projects, it is entirely blue sky, bottom-up and non-thematic. CAT encourages a collaboration with stakeholders outside academia (industry, policymakers, NGOs…) who are willing to support or engage in innovative research initiatives.

In order to engage in fruitful discussions and mature their ideas, the groups will be given the opportunity to meet for short stays in different participating institutes, and to be put in contact with the institutes’ fellows and local research communities.
 

The Netias debates bring together fellows from the European network on a joint topic. Two or three Institutes team up to coordinate each thematized series of debates. 

The events can be attended both onsite and online.

The Network brought together 22 Institutes for Advanced Study across Europe. It was created in 2004 to stimulate a dialogue on IAS practices and possible forms of cooperation. The participating institutes shared the objective of creating international and multidisciplinary learning communities. This openness and the freedom the fellows enjoyed for their researches served to promote scientific and intellectual exchanges. The fellows, released from their usual teaching and research obligations, pursued their projects in a privileged environment that stimulates reflexion and innovation. IAS tend to break from the intellectual routines, thus fostering the emergence of new perspectives, approaches and paradigms.