i-CIVIC Executive Board

Why Governance matters in Horizon Europe projects

Projects funded under Horizon Europe are built on international collaboration, interdisciplinary research and cross-sector mobility. However, scientific excellence alone is not sufficient to guarantee impact. Large-scale European projects require structured governance systems capable of ensuring coordination across countries, institutions and thematic areas.

Governance, in this sense, is not a formal layer. It is what keeps the project alive. It allows complex international partnerships to function as a coherent and integrated network rather than as separate entities working in parallel. It transforms collaboration into coordinated action. 

Within the I-CIVIC project this coordination is formalised in its Executive Board.

An Operational Engine for a European Network

I-CIVIC, coordinated by the University of the Basque Country, brings together 10 institutions across 9 countries, uniting universities, civil society organisations, public authorities and cultural institutions.

At the heart of this consortium lies the Executive Board : the central operational body responsible for ensuring that research, training, mobility exchanges and dissemination activities move forward coherently and efficiently.

Bridging Research, Communities and Policy

The Executive Board mirrors the multisectoral nature of I-CIVIC. By bringing together universities, public authorities and civil society organisations, it ensures that educational innovation remains firmly grounded in research, that community engagement responds to real territorial needs, and that democratic resilience is shaped through both policy thinking and everyday practice.

The Executive Board is composed of representatives from each beneficiary organisation:

• University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), represented by Garazi Ormazabal
• ALDA – European Association for Local Democracy, represented by Valeria Fantini
• Government of the Basque Country, represented by Iñaki Ruiz Estornell
• University of Cambridge, represented by Steve Watson
• European Democratic Education Community, represented by Charlie Moreno-Romero
• University of Galway, represented by Michal Molcho
• University of Siena, represented by Alessandra Romano
• University of Tallin, represented by Leif Kalev
• VABAMU – Kistler-Ritso Estonian Foundation, represented by Nikolai Ostašov
• University of Jyväskylä, represented by Najat Ouakrim-Soivio
  

The Operational Role: Why Governance Matters for Democratic Resilience

To tackle complex democratic challenges like youth civic participation, misinformation, and inclusive educational approaches, research alone is not enough. The ambition of I-CIVIC demands seamless cross-border coordination, ethical implementation, and proactive risk management. The Executive Board is at the heart of this effort, ensuring all activities remain connected and aligned. In today’s polarised context, this transparent and collaborative management is not just administrative; it directly reflects the democratic values that this project wants to promote.