NERON: Network for European Research on Jewish Life and Antisemitism

NERON (the Network for European Research on Jewish Life and Antisemitism) is a major European initiative designed to strengthen the research foundations required to help foster Jewish life and combat antisemitism today.

Bringing together researchers, policymakers and community stakeholders from across Europe and beyond, NERON aims to improve the quality, coordination and policy impact of research in this field by building the infrastructure needed to gather, analyse, share and utilise the best available evidence to inform community and governmental decisions affecting Jewish life.

Led by the Institute for Jewish Policy Research (JPR) and the European University Institute (EUI) and funded by the European Commission under its Horizon Europe programme, NERON's founding academic team for the project includes some of Europe’s leading specialists in the social scientific study of contemporary Jewish life and antisemitism, alongside policy specialists in European infrastructural development.

NERON aims to build a more connected, resilient and methodologically robust research and policy ecosystem for today and the future.

NERON's goals are:

Build a stronger European research network
Connect researchers, policymakers, civil society organisations and community leaders working on contemporary Jewish life and antisemitism, creating opportunities for collaboration, knowledge exchange and shared learning across countries and disciplines.

Map the research landscape and identify gaps
Develop a comprehensive understanding of existing research, institutions, data sources and expertise across Europe, highlighting areas where knowledge, capacity or infrastructure are currently lacking, and work to close gaps in research.

Strengthen research methods and standards
Advance methodological best practices in the study of Jewish populations, communities, identities and antisemitism, helping to improve the quality, comparability and reliability of research conducted both within and across different national contexts.

Enhance the policy value of research
Build stronger links between research and policy, ensuring that evidence is more effectively translated into practical responses to the challenges and opportunities facing Jewish communities and those working to support them.

Support the next generation of researchers
Create opportunities for training, internships, skills development and professional networking, helping to build long-term capacity in a field that remains underdeveloped in many parts of Europe.

Develop a vision and plan for a long-term research hub in this field
Design a strategic plan for a European research hub that can provide enduring infrastructure, coordination, leadership and expertise for the study of contemporary Jewish life and antisemitism.

Over the three years from October 2026 to September 2029, the project will map existing knowledge, identify gaps in research and infrastructure, strengthen research standards and skills, build systems to ensure data reaches policymakers, and develop a strategic plan for a sustainable European hub dedicated to the study of Jewish life and antisemitism. Work will include holding multidisciplinary seminars and conferences, providing skills workshops, piloting a summer university and internship opportunities for graduate students, and sharing new data and insights with researchers, policymakers, and leaders across Europe and beyond.

In partnership with:

The founding executive board for the project includes some of Europe’s leading specialists in the social scientific study of contemporary Jewish life and antisemitism, alongside policy specialists in European infrastructural development, as follows:

Dr Jonathan Boyd, Institute for Jewish Policy Research, London (Co-Chair)

Dr Erik Jones, European University Institute, Florence (Co-Chair)

Dr Adina Bankier-Karp, Monash University, Melbourne

Dr Ildikó Barna, ELTE University, Budapest

Dr Michał Bilewicz, University of Warsaw

Dr Elias Dinas, European University Institute, Florence

Dr Johannes Due Enstad, Norwegian Institute for Social Research, Oslo

Dr Julia Ebner, Institute for Strategic Dialogue, London/Berlin

Dr Catherine Fieschi, European University Institute, Florence

Dr Olaf Glöckner, Moses Mendelsohn Zentrum, Potsdam

Dr Ruth Illman, Åbo Akademi University, Finland

Dr Keith Kahn-Harris, Institute for Jewish Policy Research, London

Dr Vibeke Moe, HL-Senteret, Oslo

Dr Daniel Staetsky, Institute for Jewish Policy Research, London

Dr Marcela Menachem Zoufala, Charles University, Prague

The project includes all EU Member States plus other participating countries in Horizon Europe. Of particular note in this context are non-EU countries in Europe with significant Jewish populations and life, including the UK, Switzerland, Norway and Ukraine, and several key non-European partners, most notably Israel and Canada.

Our goal is to support the development of research and policy across Europe, draw on expertise from multiple disciplines, and contribute to work outside the region to advance this field worldwide.

The first phase of the project will run from 1 October 2026 to 30 September 2029. During this time, we will be working to build the network, develop methodological standards, and pilot and evaluate a range of initiatives to inform developmental plans for a permanent and sustainable hub for the field.

The best way to stay up to date on all developments related to NERON is to subscribe to the JPR monthly newsletter, where we will share news about the next steps in this project - and how people can join once the project is operational.

For regular updates on JPR's work, we also recommend following us on Facebook, LinkedIn and Bluesky.

If you have further questions about NERON, please email neron@jpr.org.uk.