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Creating the MARGISTAR Vision Workshop

Participating in a Virtual Mobility last June with Dublin City University was a pivotal experience for MARGISTAR’s Irene Christoforidi in designing the MARGISTAR Vision Workshop. This workshop aims to engage stakeholders in marginalised mountainous communities across the EU, enabling them to imagine future possibilities and develop actionable strategies for overcoming marginalisation challenges. Read on to better understand the outputs of this collaboration between Greece and Ireland and the budding initiative for community transformation in marginalised mountain areas.

Empowering Women and Marginalised Groups in Serbia’s Mountains: Harnessing Natural Resources and Social Entrepreneurship for Sustainable Success

In the rural mountainous areas of Serbia, women face significant challenges due to traditional patriarchal norms. These norms have long marginalised women, limiting their participation in economic activities outside the household and excluding them from decision-making processes both at home and within their communities. Despite legal prohibitions against gender discrimination, women in these regions still face substantial barriers to achieving equality.

Wild Mushrooms: A Chance for Marginalised Mountain Regions in Serbia

In Serbia, particularly in rural and mountainous regions, mushroom collection has emerged as a crucial economic activity. Nutrient-dense mushrooms, packed with proteins, vitamins, and minerals, are harvested both for personal consumption and commercial sales. This activity bolsters local economies, preserves traditional knowledge, and enhances community bonds, proving to be a valuable pursuit for many rural residents.

From Cities to Peaks: How Serbia’s Mountain and Rural Tourism is Changing for the Better

Serbia's tourism sector, traditionally focused around major cities, is increasingly highlighting its mountainous regions. These areas are becoming prominent tourism hubs due to their natural beauty and opportunities for activities such as hiking, skiing, and ecotourism. The rich natural resources in these regions support various outdoor activities, including hunting. Find out how mountain tourism, alongside spa and wellness tourism, plays a crucial role in Serbia's overall tourism development, helping diversify rural livelihoods and improve local economic conditions.

Understanding Serbia’s Unique Landscape: An Exploration of Serbia’s Mountainous Terrain and Diverse Nature

Serbia, lying at the crossroads of Central and South-eastern Europe, boasts extraordinary geographical diversity across its 88,499 km² lands. The northern province of Vojvodina features the flat expanses of the Pannonian Plain, while the central region is characterised by rolling hills and river valleys. The southern part of the country is dominated by mountain ranges, including the Dinaric Alps, Carpathian Mountains, and Balkan Mountains, with peaks exceeding 2,000 metres. Serbia’s mountainous areas are rich in natural resources and biodiversity, preserving rare and endangered species within national parks like Kopaonik, Tara, and Stara Planina. These regions, with their dense forests and unique ecosystems, not only highlight Serbia’s natural beauty, but underscore the country’s potential for sustainable tourism and organic farming.

The SIMRA Project: Enhancing Social Innovation in Marginalised (Mountainous) Rural Areas

The Social Innovation in Marginalised Rural Areas (SIMRA) project, funded by the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme, operated from 2016 to 2020. Its main objective was to deepen our understanding of social innovation and innovative governance within agriculture, forestry, and rural development sectors, with a particular focus on Europe's marginalised rural areas as these often lack evidence of successful outcomes and necessary supporting conditions. Read on for an overview of the project, its achievements, and how MARGISTAR will use its findings to uncover further transformation pathways for European marginalised mountain regions.

MARGISTAR’s 4th Call for Inclusiveness Target Countries Conference Grant Applications

MARGISTAR is launching its fourth call for Inclusiveness Target Countries (ITC) Conference Grants for conferences occurring between June 1 2025 and September 30 2025. All applications must be submitted before the deadline on April 20 2025, and all activities must occur before September 30.

MARGISTAR’s 4th Call for Dissemination Conference Grant Applications

MARGISTAR is launching its fourth call for Dissemination Conference Grants for conferences occurring between June 1 2025 and September 30 2025. All applications must be made before the deadline on April 20 2025, and all activities must occur before September 30 2025.

MARGISTAR’s 3rd Call for Short-Term Scientific Mission Grant Applications

MARGISTAR launches its third call for Short Term Scientific Missions (STSMs) for mobilities occurring between June 1 2025 and September 30 2025. All applications must be submitted before the deadline on April 20 2025, and all activities must occur before September 30.

MARGISTAR 2nd call for Virtual Mobility (VM) Grant Applications

MARGISTAR launches its second call for Virtual Mobility (VM) for mobilities occurring between June 1 and September 30 2025. All applications must be submitted before the deadline on April 20 2025, and all activities must occur before September 30.

MARGISTAR 1st call for Young Researchers and Innovators (YRI) Conference Grant Applications

MARGISTAR is launching its first call for Young Researchers and Innovators (YRI) Conference Grant for conferences occurring between June 1 and September 30 2025. All applications must be submitted before the deadline on April 20 2025, and all activities must occur before September 30th.