Reignite Multilateralism via Technology

Project Information

REMIT

Grant agreement ID: 101094228

DOI

10.3030/101094228

EC signature date 14 December 2022

Start date 1 March 2023

End date 28 February 2027

Funded under

• Culture, creativity and inclusive society

Total cost

€ 2 628 125,85

EU contribution

€ 2 628 125,85

Coordinated by

UNIVERSITEIT MAASTRICHT
Netherlands

Periodic Reporting for period 2 - REMIT (Reignite Multilateralism via Technology)

Reporting period: 2024-03-01 to 2025-02-28

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

The REMIT project—Reigniting Multilateralism via Technology—responds to mounting threats to multilateralism and transnational democracy, most recently exemplified by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. REMIT seeks to re-energize a collective, transnational response through technology, which is central to this vision. Tech drives economic competitiveness, impacts national security and democratic values, and is key to addressing global problems. REMIT aims to generate actionable knowledge and policy recommendations to help the EU reconceptualize multilateral governance in four crucial areas: digital, health bio, security and defence, and financial technologies. The project primarily applies the Advocacy Coalition Framework (ACF), which analyzes policy subsystems composed of three elements: the policy issue, the constellation of relevant actors, and the territorial domain for policymaking. REMIT researchers focus on subsystems aligned with their expertise, examining tensions, identifying the EU’s current positioning, and outlining paths forward. Through innovative scenario-testing workshops (STW) involving EU officials, regional groupings, and national administrators, REMIT will co-develop policy recommendations that provide a genuine remit to reignite multilateralism.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

In its first year, REMIT submitted ten deliverables showcasing key foundational achievements. Highlights include the Kick-Off meeting, which fostered scientific collaboration among consortium members, and initial research findings across the three core work packages. Other deliverables include setting up ethical monitoring, methodological consistency, communication strategies, and stakeholder engagement plans. These efforts reflect REMIT’s multidisciplinary approach, combining legal and social science expertise.

In its second year, REMIT submitted six additional deliverables and broadened its visibility. Notable outputs included overviews on the normative construction of technology governance, advocacy coalitions in the EU, China, and the U.S. and stakeholder views on multilateralism. The team also presented at international conferences, published open-access articles and policy briefs, and engaged the public via social media, dashboards, and partner-city events.

Looking ahead, REMIT researchers will present at the European International Studies Association (EISA) conference in Bologna in August 2025, organizing a 9-panel section titled Navigating the Geopolitics of Strategic Technology. REMIT will also participate in the UN Internet Governance Forum (IGF) 2025 in Norway. The first Scenario Testing Workshop (STW), on Military AI, will be held at Erasmus University Rotterdam in June 2025, with policymakers already invited. Additional STWs are planned at the Finnish Institute of International Affairs (Helsinki, Sept. 2025), the Virtual Routes Community (Brussels, Jan. 2026, Cyber Conflict), LUISS University (Rome, April 2026, Civilian AI), and KU Leuven (Q2 2026, Internet Governance and Quantum Technology).

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

REMIT advances beyond the state of the art through its innovative use of the Advocacy Coalition Framework (ACF). One of the project’s first deliverables, the methodological handbook, provides a shared foundation for applying ACF across policy areas related to strategic technologies. It establishes a common language for identifying key relationships and equips researchers with tools to adapt the ACF to foreign policy analysis—a novel extension of a framework traditionally used in political science and public policy.

In its second year, REMIT developed its innovative Scenario Testing Workshops (STWs) and established a collaboration with the European Commission’s Competence Centre on Foresight, creators of the Scenario Exploration System (SES). This serious game simulates the perspectives of key societal actors—policymakers, businesses, civil society, media, and the public—and aligns closely with REMIT’s goals. The SES enhances stakeholder engagement and offers strong potential for further use within the project. The first STW will take place in June 2025 at Erasmus University Rotterdam, followed by a second in September 2025 at the Finnish Institute of International Affairs (FIIA). Additional workshops are planned for 2026 as part of an iterative process to embed foresight methods in REMIT’s research and engagement strategy.

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