YERUN RMA 2018 – Meet Matteo Berzi

My research visit was carried out at the University of Southern Denmark (SDU) in Sønderborg, and specifically, at the Centre for Border Region Studies (CBRS), for a period of two weeks (May, 2nd-16th 2018), under the supervision of Professor Martin Klatt. The objective of the research visit was two-fold: On the one hand, the mobility stay aimed at disseminating my PhD Project entitled “The Cross-Border Path of Local Endogenous Development. Theoretical Reflections and Empirical Studies in the Pyrenees and in the Alps” (defended in September 2017) to one of the most competent European research groups in the field of Border Studies. On the other hand, the YERUN Researcher Mobility Award represented the opportunity to reinforce and to deepen the collaboration between the RECOT Network (UAB Department of Geography) and the Centre for Border Region Studies. The two research groups have developed a long and complementary trajectory in studying local and regional Cross-Border Cooperation in Europe (CBC).

The YERUN Mobility Award represented a unique opportunity to disseminate my research and to increase my visibility as a young researcher at European level. A posteriori, it contributed to strengthen the academic relations and foster future collaborations between the UAB and SDU research groups. In line with other YERUN actions, both research groups have now joined forces with other YERUN members and are promoting the possible organisation of a YERUN Thematic Workshop on a specific and important research topic for the EU policies:  European Territorial Cooperation policies and a methodological approach to detect non-subsidized cross-border practices.

Matteo Berzi holds a PhD in Geography with a background in Humanities and Spatial Planning. He is interested in the territorial policies impact at regional and local scale in sectors like socioeconomic development, environmental sustainability, tourism, climate change adaptation, governance and European integration. His research is focused on the impact of European Territorial Cooperation (CTE) with a specific interest in local and regional cross-border cooperation, multi-level governance (Euroregions) and local development processes along European borders. His PhD (UAB, 2017) was specifically aimed to study the relationship between Cross-Border Cooperation and Local Development processes in peripheral borderlands through three study cases in the Pyrenees and in the Alps. He conducts theoretical and empirical research applying qualitative methodology and a multidisciplinary approach.

Follow the links to check his Research Gate and LinkedIn profiles.

Matteo Berzi was awarded one of the 26 Research Mobility Awards of the 1st call for applications that YERUN offered in 2018.

Photo caption by Matteo Berzi (centre). Field Research in the Danish-German Borderland. Interviewing the secretary of the Sonderjylland-Schleswig Euroregion, Mr. Peter Hansen (on the right) with Professor Martin Klatt (on the left). May, 4th, 2018. Padborg (DK).