Training partners

PLATO’s eleven training partners include several leading European think tanks, two civil society organisations, a consulting firm for trade associations, and the leading online daily news site on EU politics. A career development organisation will assist the PhDs in their individual career planning.


Bruegel

Brussels, Belgium

Bruegel is an independent economic think tank. It contributes to European and global economic policy-making through open, fact-based and policy-relevant research, analysis and debate. Membership is composed of EU member state governments, leading international corporations and institutions.

Contact:
Pauline Chetail, EU Funding Project Manager (e-mail)

Mentors:
Dr. Zsolt Darvas, Senior Fellow
Dr. Giuseppe Porcaro, Head of Outreach and Governance

ESRs hosted on secondment:
Philipp Lausberg, University of Antwerp
Joris Melman, ARENA Centre for European Studies, University of Oslo


CEPS logo

Centre for European Policy Studies

Brussels, Belgium

CEPS is a leading ​think tank and ​forum for debate on EU affairs,​ with an exceptionally strong in-house research capacity​ and an extensive network of partner institutes throughout the world. As the only think tank in Brussels covering all European policy areas, CEPS offers exchanges, provides insights on and potential solutions for EU policy making.

Contact:
Dr. Steven Blockmans, Senior Research Fellow & Head of EU Foreign Policy (e-mail)

Mentors:
Dr. Marco Stefan, Research Fellow
Lina Vosyliute, Research Fellow

ESRs hosted on secondment:
Gil Thompson, Berlin Graduate School for Global and Transregional Studies
Radu-Mihai Triculescu, Twente Graduate School, University of Twente


Clingendael

The Hague, The Netherlands

Clingendael - the Netherlands Institute of International Relations - is a leading Dutch think tank and diplomatic academy on international affairs. The institute provides public and private sector organisations with in-depth analysis of global developments in the fields of EU governance, economic diplomacy, international security and conflict management, with a specific focus on the position and role of the Netherlands.

Contact and mentor:
Dr. Adriaan Schout, Senior Research Fellow and Coordinator Europe (e-mail)

ESRs hosted on secondment:
Elena Escalante Block, Centre for European Studies and Comparative Politics, Sciences Po Paris
José Piquer, Department of Politics and International Studies, University of Cambridge


Democracy International

Cologne, Germany

Democracy International is an independent NGO working for better democracy in Europe and beyond. The group actively supports democracy initiatives in a number of countries and coordinates transnational campaigns – for electoral and institutional reform, freedom of information, increased participation and direct democracy. Democracy International’s greatest success at the European level to date is the introduction of the European Citizens’ Initiative.

Contact and mentor:
Andreas Müller, Managing Director (e-mail)

ESR hosted on secondment:
Camille Dobler, Institute of European Studies, Jagiellonian University


EUobserver

Brussels, Belgium

EUobserver is the largest online daily news site covering EU politics. It is an independent newspaper which values free thinking and plain speech. It aims to support European democracy by giving people the information they need to hold the EU establishment to account. In addition to news articles, EUobserver publishes series of investigative reports as well as comment pieces and blogs reflecting opinions from across the political spectrum.

Contact:
Lisbeth Kirk, Founder (e-mail)


European Citizen Action Service

Brussels, Belgium

ECAS is an international, non-profit organization that provides services to a network of about 150 European NGOs. ECAS empowers citizens to exercise their rights and promotes open and inclusive decision-making through the provision of high quality advice, research and advocacy, as well as capacity-building for civil society organisations.

Contact and mentor:
Assya Kavrakova, Executive Director (e-mail)

Mentor:
Elisa Lironi, Senior Manager European Democracy

ESRs hosted on secondment:
Julien Bois, Berlin Graduate School for Global and Transregional Studies
Emilija Tudzarovska-Gjorgjievska, Institute of Sociology, Czech Academy of Sciences


Jacques Delors Centre | Hertie School

Berlin, Germany

Research which is scientifically grounded and able to reach into the public debate - that is what the EU's unprecedented challenges require. The Jacques Delors Centre at the Hertie School strives to achieve this by progressively integrating the School's academic research and the Jacques Delors Institut – Berlin's think tank work. It focuses primarily on five core areas of European integration: Digital Europe, economic policy, foreign and security policy, institutions and democracy, and migration.

Contact:
Dr. Nicole Koenig, Deputy Director (e-mail)

Mentor:
Lucas Guttenberg, Senior Research Fellow and Deputy Director

ESR hosted on secondment:
Ivana Skazlić, Institute for Advanced Studies, Vienna


Kellen

Brussels, Belgium

KELLEN is Brussels’s longest established association management company and provides services to a wide range of trade associations – from pooling of expertise to setting common industry positions and carrying out regulatory and public affairs campaigns. Kellen reaches out to stakeholders on a sustained basis, and also assists businesses in creating and managing ad-hoc coalitions, and support these coalitions in enhancing their presence in Brussels.

Contact:
Maria Teresa Scardigli, Vice-President, Brussels (e-mail)

Mentor:
Adriana Nosewicz, Senior Association Manager

ESR hosted on secondment:
Bas Redert, University of Antwerp


Polish Institute of International Affairs

Warsaw, Poland

PISM is a public think tank that conducts research and training in international affairs. PISM is the biggest Polish institution conducting policy-focused research, and prepares analyses and studies for the public administration responsible for shaping and conducting Poland's foreign policy. Since 2010, PISM has been rated amongst the most influential government-affiliated think tanks worldwide in the annual 'Global Go To Think Tank Ranking'.

Contact and mentor:
Dr. Sebastian Płóciennik, Head of the Weimar Triangle Programme (e-mail)

ESRs hosted on secondment:
Jan Pesl, ARENA Centre for European Studies, University of Oslo
Dominika Proszowska, Twente Graduate School, University of Twente


Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik

Berlin, Germany

The German Institute for International and Security Affairs is an independent, publicly funded scientific establishment that conducts practically oriented research and advises the German parliament and the federal government on foreign and security policy, including aspects related to climate protection and resource scarcity. It serves as a forum for exchange where decision makers meet with SWP researchers for discussions in a confidential atmosphere.

Contact and mentor:
Dr. Ronja Kempin, Senior Fellow (e-mail)

Mentor:
Dr. Franziska Smolnik, Deputy Head of Research Division

ESRs hosted on secondment:
Claire Godet, ARENA Centre for European Studies, University of Oslo
Tiffany Williams, Institute for Advanced Studies, Vienna


Vitae

Cambridge, UK

Vitae is an international organisation championing the personal, professional and career development of researchers. Its goals are to develop research policy and practice, drive excellence in provision through the development and distribution of high quality learning resources and practice sharing and to actively engage employers in the development of researchers, and provide employability, career and professional placement information for researchers across all sectors.

Contact:
Tori Helmer, Learning and Development Programme Manager (e-mail)

Training programme contributors: 
Dr. Katie Wheat, Training & Resources Development Manager
Jen Reynolds, Professional Development Manager