How can European regions be supported in their green and digital transitions while taking into account not only technological progress but also the needs of local communities? This is the question that partners in the international HIT research project (Historical and Regional Imaginaries Shaping Transitions) are seeking to answer. The project is funded by the European Union under the Horizon Europe programme.
Representatives of Łukasiewicz – ITECH – Katarzyna Iwińska, PhD Joanna Grudowska and Katarzyna Kotowska – attended the project’s kick-off meeting in Finland.
The HIT project focuses on supporting European regions in navigating the twin industrial transition – green and digital – in a way that is fair, inclusive and takes into account the social implications of these changes.
The research conducted as part of the project will cover eight European regions with diverse economic and industrial backgrounds. Researchers will examine how historical factors, local experiences, labour market conditions and residents’ expectations shape the course of these transitions.
Another key component of the project will be the development of tools and policy recommendations to support public policymaking, ensuring that decarbonisation and digitalisation contribute not only to economic modernisation but also to reducing inequalities and strengthening the social resilience of regions.
Łukasiewicz – ITECH will conduct research into socio-economic transformations in the Pomeranian and Silesian regions of Poland, including regional analyses, fieldwork, stakeholder engagement and participatory workshops.
The project is being implemented by an international consortium led by Tampere University in Finland, in collaboration with eight partner institutions. The project is scheduled to run from 2026 to 2029.
Participation in the HIT project marks another step in Łukasiewicz – ITECH’s commitment to international research on the energy transition, innovation and the social dimensions of technological development.
The HIT project (Historical and Regional Imaginaries Shaping Transitions) is funded by the European Union under the Horizon Europe programme. Grant Agreement No. 101286352.