RID Project 2: PUEB for Economy 5.0: Regional Initiative - Global Effects (RIGE)

When we first identified a research niche in 2018 and subsequently designed scientific work and tasks to be financed through the funds of the first REI competition, the digital transformation was just beginning. The socio-economic reality following the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic and the multidimensional expansion of digital technologies that occurred after 2020 were not predictable a priori. However, the research intuition that led us to undertake studies in the field of Industry and Economy 4.0 enabled us, at the moment when changes accelerated, to possess the resources and tools for their methodical analysis and interpretation. Today, thanks to the results of our original research, we are aware of the depth and diversity of transformations that have already occurred due to digitalization, those that are still ongoing, and those that may and should occur to counteract (post)pandemic threats and other crisis phenomena (including climate challenges, energy, food, and water supply constraints). The global security destabilization resulting from Russia’s ongoing aggression against Ukraine further complicates the situation and points to other threads requiring the attention of researchers in the fields of economics, finance, management, and quality sciences, through the works of which counteracting the negative effects of the conflict should be more efficient and effective, also (and perhaps especially) using digital technologies.

In designing research work, we assume that in the substantive layer, we will consistently focus on identifying current problems and challenges at various levels of the economy (mega, macro, meso, and micro), studying them, and proposing solutions useful at the level of consumers (households and families), companies, industries, regions, and the entire national economy. Formulating recommendations for individual areas of economic policy will also be significant.

by allocating a specially designated budget for research conducted with their participation, from which doctoral grants supporting research activity, publication, dissemination of results, and doctoral mobility would be awarded through competition. Such support would enable young researchers to gain experience not only in conducting research – from its design to disseminating results – but also through becoming familiar with the procedure of applying for funds, developing skills in managing schedules and judiciously spending allocated amounts, and then accounting for them, which would facilitate future efforts to obtain funding from external sources. In this way, young researchers would become more aware of the expectations placed on mature scientists, adeptly take care of the future of their careers in an entrepreneurial manner, feel a stronger connection with the university supporting their development, and also gain greater research independence.

Disseminating the results of research conducted within the project is essential to ensure that scientific achievements are accessible and understandable to a wide audience. Therefore, there are plans to extensively utilize social media platforms to share summaries, infographics, photos, or videos presenting research results that are understandable to direct stakeholders as well as a broader audience beyond the academic community.