Eurac Research
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Denomination
Eurac Research – Istituto per lo sviluppo regionale
Website
www.eurac.edu
Representative Person
Dr. Thomas Streifeneder
Institute Director
Viale Druso 1 – 39100 Bolzano (IT)
thomas.streifeneder@eurac.edu
+39 0471 055333
Contact Person
Dr. Andrea Omizzolo
Senior Researcher
Viale Druso 1 – 39100 Bolzano (IT)
andrea.omizzolo@eurac.edu
+39 0471 055324
Description
A more equitable and environmentally friendly society is the goal of our research. We look for ways to achieve this goal, particularly in rural areas. Our research involves the people who live in the valleys of South Tyrol and other mountain regions. Local knowledge and science combine to design a sustainable future.
Major global changes – from global warming and demographic and social changes to the loss of biodiversity, migration, and digitization – raise new questions in mountain regions as well. These questions concern the relationship between humans and the natural environment, as well as social aspects and the use of resources. In our research projects we address them directly in the field. Together with various interest groups we develop and implement, for example, agreed solutions to protect grazing animals and thus improve the coexistence of humans and wildlife. We investigate how cultural heritage and commons can be revalued, how migrants can be integrated into rural communities, how digitization and new forms of soft mobility can help keep remote valleys alive. The circular economy and regional and local value chains, for example in forestry or the food chain, are another theme of our research. We investigate the best ways to move locally produced food directly from the farm to the table, involving agriculture, hospitality infrastructure, and commerce in close collaboration, and thus making a major contribution to a more sustainable food system and tourism.