GRAPE

The Asia-Pacific region is today one of the most dynamic and strategic areas in the world. With a constantly growing economy and a key role in politics and international affairs, understanding this reality is essential for a global analysis of the contemporary world. It is from this conviction that GRAPE (Research Group on Asia, Pacific and Europe Relations) at the UOC was born—an initiative of the Faculty of Law and Political Science, active since 2023. GRAPE aims to become a leading hub for the study of relations between Europe and the Asia-Pacific, adopting an interdisciplinary, rigorous, and critical perspective rooted in a European yet non-Eurocentric approach. The group analyses both the internal dynamics of the region—from the Middle East to the Pacific—and its interregional relations with global actors such as China, Japan, Iran, Russia, Saudi Arabia, and the United States. GRAPE serves as an academic meeting point where the main political, economic, and social phenomena of the region are debated, and as a platform for promoting research and development (R&D) projects in collaboration with other universities and research centres. It also fosters the joint publication of articles and reports, as well as the organisation of seminars, workshops, and outreach activities to deepen understanding of the challenges and transformations affecting this part of the world. With a strong commitment to impact and knowledge transfer, GRAPE disseminates its findings through blogs, opinion pieces, and other digital formats accessible via UOC platforms.