The Historical Archives of the European Union (HAEU) at the European University Institute has selected ten scholars to receive the 2026 Postgraduate Vibeke Sørensen Grant. These grants support postgraduate research that draw on the HAEU's archival holdings related to the history of European integration.
The projects selected from this 2026 call demonstrate the diversity of contemporary research on European integration, extending beyond political institutions to encompass culture, memory, science, technology, the environment, and society. By exploring a wide range of actors, policies, and ideas across different periods and geographical contexts, they promise to shed new light on numerous aspects of the history of European integration and the development of the European Union.
Lilian Boucard, academic assistant at the College of Europe Natolin will receive a grant to research ‘La défense européenne à l’épreuve de la fiscalité et de la représentation : les projets de la Communauté Européenne de Défense et les plans Fouchet face aux problèmes de financement (1952-1962)’.
Dr Jelena Brankovic, senior researcher at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, has been selected for her project ‘Before global competition: the standing conference of rectors, presidents and vice-chancellors of the European universities (CRE) and the historical making of a comparable university world,1959–2004’.
Wessel De Cock, PhD student at Humboldt University in Berlin, successfully received a grant for his proposal researching ‘The dual integration of neuroscience and European science policy: Demarcating brain research in the Fourth and Fifth Frameworks Program 1990–1998’.
Virginia Fiume, PhD student at La Sapienza - Università di Roma received a Sørensen grant to pursue her work on ‘From conscientious objection to European policy: Mapping the transnational networks behind the proposal for the European Civilian Peace Corps (1983–1999)’.
Sarah Hassnaoui, PhD candidate at Aix-Marseille University (AMU) and the Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM) was awarded a research grant for ‘La place des minorités nationales dans la formation d’imaginaires politiques communs européens. L’exemple des projets culturels des minorités allemandes et turques, de 1991 à aujourd’hui’.
Henry Jacob, a PhD student in History at Yale University will receive support for archival research contributing to his project ‘Between independence and integration: A history of Greenland within Europe, 1950s-2000s’.
Topi Juga, a research fellow and doctoral researcher at the Finnish Institute of International Affairs / University of Helsinki was selected for the project ‘Forming a pragmatic member state – Finland as a new member of the European Union 1995–1999’.
Alleiah Kall, PhD candidate at the European University Institute, was awarded a grant for the project ‘European historical memory and Spanish democracy (1985-2022)’.
Gabriella Rago, PhD candidate at the University of Turin, was selected for her research on ‘ITER and the technopolitics of European integration: Cooperation and competition in the global informal empire of thermonuclear knowledge’.
Lucile Truffy, PhD candidate at the Centre for History at Sciences Po, will receive a grant for archival research towards her dissertation project ‘A history of plastic packaging: Consumption, contestation, and regulation, 1950s–1970s’.
The Vibeke Sørensen Research Grant for visiting scholars was set up in 1993 by the then-president of the European University Institute, Emile Noël, with support from the European Commission. The grant scheme was renamed in 1997 to honour the memory of Dr Vibeke Sørensen (1952 – 1995), an alumna of the EUI’s Department of History and former staff member of the HAEU. A maximum of ten grants are awarded each year.