UNIMED - UNIONE DELLE UNIVERSITA DEL MEDITERRANEO

Their core work

UNIMED is a network association of universities across the Mediterranean region, facilitating academic cooperation and policy dialogue between European and Southern Mediterranean countries. They specialize in designing inclusive strategies for vulnerable populations — particularly forcibly displaced people — and in analyzing how digital media platforms shape European culture and identity. Their practical contribution lies in coordinating multi-country research efforts that bridge innovation policy, social inclusion, and media studies across diverse Mediterranean contexts.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

UNIMED's early H2020 work (2016) centered on open innovation ecosystems and regional smart specialization in the Mediterranean, with a focus on resource sectors like energy, water, and agriculture. From 2019 onward, they shifted decisively toward social and cultural topics — first social inclusion for displaced populations (RAISD), then European media platforms and digital culture (EUMEPLAT). The trajectory shows a clear move from innovation policy toward society-facing research on migration, vulnerability, and media.

UNIMED is moving toward research on how digital media and migration intersect with European identity — expect future work at the crossroads of media literacy, social inclusion, and cultural policy.

How they like to work

UNIMED exclusively participates as a partner, never as coordinator, across all three H2020 projects. However, they operate in large, geographically diverse consortia — 43 unique partners across 21 countries suggests they function as a network hub bringing Mediterranean university connections to the table. Their value to a consortium lies in their reach across Southern and Eastern Mediterranean academic institutions rather than in project leadership.

UNIMED has collaborated with 43 unique partners across 21 countries, reflecting their identity as a Mediterranean university network. Their geographic span likely covers both EU member states and Southern/Eastern Mediterranean countries, making them a bridge between European and non-EU academic institutions.

What sets them apart

UNIMED's distinctive value is its identity as a university union — not a single institution but a network of Mediterranean universities. This makes them uniquely positioned to mobilize academic partners across Southern Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East for EU-funded projects. For consortium builders, partnering with UNIMED is effectively accessing a pre-built network of Mediterranean higher education institutions.

Highlights from their portfolio

• RAISD
  Largest funded project (EUR 258K) addressing inclusion strategies for forcibly displaced people — combines social research methodology with community-adapted action research across multiple vulnerability contexts.
• EUMEPLAT
  Most recent project (2021-2024) tackling the timely topic of media platformization, fake news, and their impact on European culture and identity — positions UNIMED in a high-demand research area.