FLARE COST Action Begins Its Journey Toward Futures Literacy

The first Management Committee (MC) meeting marked an important step for the FLARE COST Action Futures Literacy for Anticipatory Societies: Strengthening Foresight Systems Across Europe (FLARE).

At the kick-off meeting, representatives from participating countries set the foundation for collaboration, governance, and shared ambition. The meeting gave members a first opportunity to align around the goals of FLARE, elect key leadership roles, and begin building the community that will support the project in the years ahead.

For Action Chair of the action, Marina Andeva from the University American College Skopje was elected, and as a Vice-Chair, Sanna Ketonen-Oksi from Laurea University of Applied Sciences. University American College Skopje has been elected as Action Grant Holder, and Iryna Gerasymenko, Andreia Damian and Khawaja Hammad Akbar as Action Officers. For the working group leaders and co-leaders, Riel Miller, Dan Lockton, Thomas D'hooge, Antje Bierwisch, Mathias Behn Bjørnhof, Ivana Jordanovska and Johanna Vallistu were approved by Management Committee members.

The first Management Committee meeting for FLARE COST Action, October 19, 2026, Brussels, Belgium

Why are COST Actions Important

COST Actions are designed to connect researchers, practitioners, institutions, and stakeholders across Europe. They do not function like traditional research projects with a single lab or one central output. Instead, they create space for collaboration through meetings, workshops, training activities, short-term scientific missions, and shared work across countries. For FLARE, that model fits the challenge well. A networked structure gives FLARE room to connect different aspects of foresight and perspectives.

Discussions at Working Group 4, FLARE COST Action, October 19, 2026, Brussels, Belgium

Dr Svetluša Surová joins as Slovakia’s MC member

Our director and senior researcher, Dr Svetluša Surová, joined as the Management Committee member for Slovakia, adding another national perspective to a growing European network focused on foresight, resilience, and futures literacies.

Dr Surová’s role as Slovakia’s MC member will help connect expertise and priorities from Slovakia with FLARE’s wider goals. It also creates opportunities for researchers, practitioners, and institutions in Slovakia to engage with the Action’s activities and contribute to this COST Action project.