Participation of Rudolfovo researchers at the 5th Forum of the International Sociological Association (ISA) in Rabat

From July 6 to 11, 2025, a group of researchers from Rudolfovo participated in the 5th Forum of the International Sociological Association (ISA), which took place this year in Rabat, Morocco. The conference was one of the most important events in the field of sociology and social sciences, bringing together researchers from all over the world.

Rudolfovo was represented at the event by a team of authors consisting of Tamara Besednjak Valič, Erika Džajić Uršič, Janez Kolar, and Urša Lamut, who, under the section led by Professor Borut Rončević, presented a research paper entitled: "Regional Resilience and Innovation in Post-Socialist Central and Eastern Europe: Opportunity for Clinical Sociology?".

The contribution, developed as part of research work at Rudolfovo, focused on the role of sociology in understanding regional resilience and innovation in the post-socialist space of Central and Eastern Europe. The conceptual framework of Cultural Political Economy (CPE) was used, which allows for an in-depth analysis of the influence of institutions, social networks, and cognitive structures on the development paths of regions. The research included a comparative analysis of 14 regions in the Danube region and showed how regional strategies and imaginaries are formed in response to external technological and social pressures. The presentation particularly emphasized the importance of sociological reflection in the context of the diffusion of sustainable technologies.

The research directly supports the objectives of research project J7-50186, which examines industrial symbiotic networks (ISNs) as important socio-economic structures for the transition to a circular economy. The findings presented at the forum shed light on the key institutional conditions, network dynamics, and cognitive patterns that influence the success of sustainable practices in the regions. In addition to the substantive links, the presentation also introduced analytical tools such as qualitative network analysis and discourse analysis of regional development strategies, which are also useful in the context of ISN analysis in Slovenia.

Participation in the conference played an important role in disseminating the results of Rudolfovo research and strengthening the international recognition of Slovenian research in the field of environmental sociology, innovation, and regional development. Participants had the opportunity to establish new research contacts with academics from Europe, Africa, Asia, and America and to discuss possibilities for further cooperation in future international projects, particularly within the Horizon Europe program.