About us

The collaboration between Tbilisi State University (TSU) and the University of Innsbruck (UIBK) has been growing since 2022, initially supported by APPEAR preparatory funding funded by OeAD that laid the foundation for ongoing joint research across the Alps and the Caucasus. What began as a focused effort to explore mutual scientific interests has evolved into a long-term partnership dedicated to advancing knowledge on mountain regions and supporting their sustainable and resilient development.
At the core of this collaboration is a Georgian-Austrian research team united by shared curiosity, complementary expertise, and a commitment to interdisciplinary work. The team brings together scholars from sociology, tourism studies, marketing, climate change research, and human geography, allowing for a holistic understanding of mountain systems and the many social, environmental, and economic forces shaping them. This diversity enables us to work closely with communities and stakeholders while translating scientific insights into practical and meaningful outcomes.
Since 2022, our partnership has expanded through several joint research projects focusing on mountain destinations, resilience, socio-ecological change, and sustainable tourism development. Through collaborative field studies, comparative analyses between the Alps and the Caucasus, stakeholder engagement, and shared teaching activities, we continue to strengthen academic ties and foster a new generation of mountain researchers.
Our vision is rooted in cooperation, mutual learning, and the belief that sustainable and resilient mountain futures require interdisciplinary thinking and cross-border collaboration. As a team, we strive to co-create knowledge that supports evidence-based decision-making and contributes to the well-being of mountain societies in Georgia, Austria, and beyond.