The CHANSE Final Conference, held in Kraków under the inspiring motto “We Are CHANSE”, brought together researchers and policymakers to celebrate the achievements of the 26 projects funded under the Transformations: Social and Cultural Dynamics in the Digital Age call. The event showcased the extraordinary breadth of CHANSE-funded research — from digital resilience and cultural memory to ethics, education, and planetary futures.
Across two days of presentations, discussions, and exchange, a clear message emerged: interdisciplinary collaboration is no longer a choice but a necessity. The projects presented demonstrated how the arts, humanities, and social sciences (AHSS) can work most powerfully when they cross disciplinary and national boundaries. The CHANSE programme has proven that such collaboration not only enriches academic knowledge but also increases the relevance and applicability of research.
Importantly, these projects engage directly with some of the most pressing real-world challenges of our time — from disinformation and AI ethics to social inequality and mental health. Several initiatives have already translated their findings into practical tools and policy recommendations. Whether through educational platforms to improve media literacy, frameworks for fair algorithmic decision-making, or community-based solutions for digital inclusion, the impact of CHANSE research is tangible and growing.
A recurring theme throughout the conference was replicability and scalability. Many projects have created models and methods that can be reused and adapted across different contexts, ensuring that the value of their work extends far beyond the initial project lifespan. This legacy-oriented thinking strengthens the sustainability of the research and opens pathways for future collaborations.
Looking ahead, CHANSE is not an endpoint but a bridge — leading toward new opportunities such as the upcoming Societal Transformations and Resilience (STR) programme and other EU initiatives. The success of CHANSE points the way forward for how AHSS disciplines can continue shaping Europe’s research and innovation landscape.
Above all, the conference reaffirmed a shared belief: curiosity-driven research, when supported and connected, helps societies navigate complexity with resilience, empathy, and imagination.
As we move beyond this event, the spirit of CHANSE lives on in the partnerships, ideas, and questions that will continue to shape the future of social and cultural research in Europe.