CA24154 - Networking European Security Knowledge (NetSec)

The Networking European Security Knowledge (NetSec) COST Action addresses the critical challenge of fragmentation of Europe’s intellectual and analytical base in the field of security studies. This fragmentation, spanning academic, policy, and practitioner communities, hinders the EU’s pursuit of strategic autonomy and its ability to respond effectively to complex security challenges. NetSec aims to create an inclusive, multidisciplinary network that integrates diverse perspectives on European defense and security, fostering synergies across different national and local epistemic communities, bridging the academia-policy divide, and cultivating the next generation of security scholars. The Action is structured around three core objectives: (1) Creating an Inclusive Network for Knowledge Exchange, (2) Translating Knowledge into Policy Impact, and (3) Developing Skills, Methods, and Tools to Address Fragmentation. These objectives are pursued through four interconnected Working Groups focused on management, framework development, tools and training, and inclusion, stakeholder engagement, and dissemination. NetSec will implement various measures to maximize impact, including interdisciplinary research collaborations, annual conferences, policy workshops, a mentorship program, and a summer school. The Action emphasizes geographical and disciplinary diversity, addressing gender and generational imbalances in the field. By fostering a cohesive European security studies community, NetSec aims to contribute significantly to overcoming Europe’s strategic fragmentation and advancing its strategic autonomy in an increasingly complex global security environment.