The consortium formed by the New Strategy Center, the Western University of Timișoara and the Academy of Land Forces "Nicolae Bălcescu" in Sibiu was selected by the Public Diplomacy Division of NATO in the call for projects entitled "Increasing Societal Resilience: Innovative Ways to Counter Disinformation and Hostile Information Activities", which aims to increase the resilience of NATO states in the face of disinformation campaigns.

The "Investments in a Safer Future" project, of the mentioned consortium, is among the declared winning proposals and will be carried out until the end of this year. It will bring together young cadets from the "Nicolae Bălcescu" Land Forces Academy in Sibiu and students from several faculties of the Western University in Timișoara in several activities aimed at evaluating both the level of knowledge regarding NATO activity and of the degree of permeability to some narratives that are part of the disinformation campaigns that want to undermine trust in democratic values ​​and cohesion at NATO level. Young people of the same age, but with different professional concerns, will be able to share information through which they can better recognize fake news and hostile propaganda actions, in an interactive setting that will help them develop a critical apparatus and raise awareness the origin and objectives of disinformation campaigns.

At the same time, this project is also an example of cooperation between the civilian and military academic environment, but also between the academic environment and the area of ​​non-governmental expertise, to increase societal resilience in the face of informational aggression, especially in the segment of the young generation.

Through this project, the New Strategy Center, the Western University of Timișoara and the "Nicolae Bălcescu" Land Forces Academy in Sibiu want to contribute to the training of future leaders in the civil and military area by disseminating information on NATO's contribution to increasing the security of Romania and the entire Flanc Eastern, investments in the field of defense are in fact investments in a safer future, which will ensure prosperity and security for our region.

The initiative is a pilot project in which a peer-to-peer educational model can be implemented and will focus on NATO's political and communication priorities, according to a strategy adapted for the younger generation. Among the objectives of the project, we mention:

– the development of innovative educational materials adapted to the ever-changing digital environment, in a manner suitable for a young audience;

– the involvement of students in reaching other students on topics of great strategic relevance, which are the target of disinformation actions;

– improving the current expertise in communication with the next generation;

– encouraging relationships between future practitioners and experts;

– emphasizing the importance of the NATO-EU relationship, the sustainable transatlantic link and allied solidarity;

- informing the young generation about NATO's role in guaranteeing stability and prosperity in the Black Sea region;

– the acquisition by the students participating in the project of advanced critical skills and useful knowledge in detecting and countering propaganda, fake news and information manipulation.