CENTRO DE ESTUDOS SOCIAIS

Their core work

CES is a leading Portuguese social sciences and humanities research centre based at the University of Coimbra, focused on critical studies of memory, colonialism, human rights, and democratic participation. They produce deep qualitative research on how societies process historical legacies — from colonial wars to anti-racism politics — and translate these insights into policy-relevant frameworks. They also design and test participatory democracy tools, co-creation methods for urban regeneration, and gender equality strategies for research institutions. Their work bridges Southern European and Global South perspectives (Latin America, Africa, Asia), making them a distinctive voice in European social research.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In 2015–2018, CES concentrated on post-colonial memory studies (MEMOIRS, CROME), international cooperation with the Caspian region, indigenous human rights in Latin America, and SSH valorisation methods — essentially foundational critical social research. From 2019 onward, the centre shifted toward applied democratic participation (PHOENIX, URBiNAT), environmental justice (JUST2CE, ECO), and media/Europeanization studies, reflecting a move from purely historical-critical work toward forward-looking societal challenges like citizen engagement and green transitions. The emergence of environmental humanities — anchored by the major ECO grant in 2022 — marks a significant new direction layered on top of their established post-colonial expertise.

CES is moving from retrospective critical studies toward actionable frameworks for democratic participation and environmental justice, making them increasingly relevant for Horizon Europe missions on climate and democracy.

How they like to work

CES leads slightly more than it follows — 11 coordinated projects vs 10 as participant — showing strong project management capacity and a willingness to take intellectual leadership. With 140 unique consortium partners across 38 countries, they operate as a broad network hub rather than a closed circle, indicating openness to new collaborations. Their projects range from small MSCA fellowships (2–3 partners) to large RIA consortia (10+ partners), so they are comfortable across scales.

CES has built partnerships with 140 distinct organisations across 38 countries, making it one of the most internationally connected SSH research centres in Portugal. Their geographic reach spans the EU core but also extends strongly into Latin America, Africa, and Asia — reflecting their post-colonial and Global South research agenda.

What sets them apart

CES occupies a rare niche: a Southern European research centre with deep intellectual ties to the Global South (Latin America, Lusophone Africa, Southeast Asia), giving it perspectives most Northern European institutions lack. Their ability to combine rigorous critical theory with applied participatory tools — from urban co-creation to digital democracy platforms — makes them a bridge between academic social research and real policy impact. For consortium builders, CES brings both conceptual depth and hands-on experience in engaging communities across diverse cultural contexts.

Highlights from their portfolio

• ECO
  Their largest single grant (EUR 2M ERC Consolidator), signalling top-tier individual research recognition in environmental humanities — a new frontier for the centre.
• URBiNAT
  A EUR 1.5M coordination role in a major urban regeneration project, demonstrating CES can lead large applied consortia beyond their traditional humanities base.
• POLITICS
  A EUR 1.9M ERC-funded project spanning Europe and Latin America on anti-racism politics — exemplifying their signature cross-continental, power-critical research.