Over the course of the ARENAS project, we cooperate with our Horizon Europe sister projects, building meaningful synergies for exchanging knowledge and disseminating results to boost the impact of all three projects on research, innovation and society. On behalf of the SMIDGE project, we are delighted to extend an invitation to attend its International conference “The Invisible Middle: Understanding Online Extremism in Middle-Aged Adults in Europe,” taking place on 29 January 2026 at NH Brussels EU Berlaymont (Boulevard Charlemagne 11/19, Brussels).
The conference will bring together policymakers, journalists, security practitioners, researchers, and digital platform representatives to examine the evolving dynamics of online extremism, its broader societal consequences, and its specific impact on middle-aged adults. The event serves as the final conference of the Horizon Europe-funded SMIDGE Project, which over the past three years has investigated how online extremist narratives influence middle-aged users – an audience often overlooked in radicalisation and disinformation research.
The programme features high-level panel discussions, a screening of the SMIDGE documentary presenting key research findings, and interactive exchange sessions with other European initiatives working on extremism prevention, disinformation, and democratic resilience. The conference aims not only to foster informed dialogue but also to generate concrete policy insights and practical recommendations to support evidence-based interventions.
You can register to confirm your attendance using this link. For more details, please visit the conference webpage.
