FP7 - Socio-economic sciences and humanities programme

1. FP7 - Socio-economic sciences and humanities programme University of Nottingham 12 October 2009

2. Social science research in Framework programme • Thematic programme: Socio-economic sciences and humanities • societal challenges, policy relevant, collaborative • scientific excellence, multi-disciplinary : € 623 million (2007-2013) • European Research Council (ERC): • investigator driven, scientific excellence, “blue skies” research, • individual grants, discipline oriented: • €1 billion (2007-2013) • Other thematic programmes • multi-disciplinary projects in e.g.s health, environment, energy, security, IT

3. SSH Programme – annual budget

4. Reconfiguring the SSH programme • Creating a solid knowledge base of Europe-wide, comparative, interdisciplinary research • Smaller number of larger projects • Linking disciplines together • Creating critical mass and avoiding fragmentation • Creating a set of coherent and complementary research activities • Gaining from more efficient management • Giving better added value for EU • Greater impact on policymaking – leading to evidence based policy • Making EU supported research more visible • Preparing the path for the Next Framework Programme

5. SSH “new approach”: expected outcomes • Enhanced excellence in SSH research • More, better knowledge relating to the EU major challenges (remit of the SSH Programme) • Scientific evidence for policy-making, in particular ERA and other EU policies • Development of input for infrastructures: databases, indicators, modelling frameworks • Partnerships, involvement of stakeholders

6. SSH “new approach” – What does this mean for the scientific community ? • Ambitious objectives • Europe- wide studies - often comparative • Meaningful results at European level – “European added value” • Identification of new macro trends and phenomena • More inter-disciplinarity and linkages with other disciplines • Fewer, higher quality deliverables: • publications in quality journals and good publishing houses • excellent and up-to-date website • regular “Policy Briefs”

7. SSH “new approach”: more professional project management • Commission has identified research management as a weakness – hence expects: • Well defined management structure • Well defined governance structure, strong and effective leadership • Efficient, well co-ordinated research teams • Well defined objectives, milestones and timescales • Improved use of resources • Efficient and systematic monitoring • Improved time management • Will be a factor in assessment of proposals

8. Structure of 2010 Work Programme • Activity 1 – Growth employment and competitiveness in a knowledge society • Challenge • 2 topics • Activity 2 – Combining economic, social and environmental objectives • Challenge • 3 topics • “Social platform” • Activity 3 – Major trends in society and their implications • Challenge • Activity 4 – Europe in the world • Challenge • 3 topics • Activity 5 – The citizen in the European Union • Challenge • 2 topics • (Activity 6 – Socio-economic and scientific indicators) • (Activity 7 – Foresight activities) • Activity 8 – coordination and horizontal activities

9. Funding mechanisms: “societal challenges” Large- scale integrated research projects • Multi-national collaborative projects (7 MS or AC) • Minimum EC contribution of €6.5 million • Address at least core of specified research agenda • Multi-disciplinary approach • Take stock of past research in field and look forward • Significant international dimension - where relevant • Includes dissemination and exploitation • Engages a critical mass of participants, involving key stakeholders • Rigorous management

10. Funding mechanisms: topics “Small or medium scale focused research projects” • Multi-national collaborative projects (3 MS or AC) • Maximum EC contribution of €2.7 million • Proposal needs to address research agenda described • Produce new knowledge • Multi-disciplinary; plurality of approaches • Quantitative and qualitative analyses where appropriate • Comparative perspective- wide European coverage (not necessarily geographic) • Interface with needs of policy-makers and other interested stakeholders – “evidence based policy” • Strengthen capability of socio-economic sciences and humanities to contribute to ERA

11. Activity 1 - Growth employment and competitiveness in a knowledge society • Challenge: Changing the role of the financial system to better serve economic, social and environmental objectives • The evolving role of finance in society • The costs and benefits of restructuring in the real economy • Regulation and governance of finance in an international and historical perspective and related public policy issues • The impact on developing countries: development of international treaties and institutions • challenges for the EU in the context of the crisis – cohesion, fiscal policy, governance

12. Activity 1 - Growth employment and competitiveness in a knowledge society • Topics • Demand driven research and innovation policies for growth, welfare and well being • The public sector of the future

13. Activity 2 – Combining economic, social and environmental objectives • Challenge: Creating and adapting jobs in Europe in the context of a socio-ecological transition • The dynamics of employment creation . . . and the design of new employment policies • Education and training for new jobs • Prospects for more and better jobs for women and older workers in the socio-ecological activities • The role of social innovation • Comparisons with new employment practices outside the EU in developed and emerging countries

14. Activity 2 – Combining economic, social and environmental objectives • Topics • Local welfare systems favouring social cohesion • Analysis of the impacts of global changes • EU regions and their interaction with neighbourhood regions • “Social Platform” on sustainable lifestyles

15. Activity 3 – Major trends in society and their implications • Challenge: Addictions and lifestyles in contemporary Europe • Social, economic and individual determinants of addictions and behavioural disorders • Comparative definitions of addictions and development of quantitative data across Europe • Comparative legal and regulatory frameworks for various substances • Trade and profits around addiction development in case of licit drugs or products • Who defines addiction and addictive behaviours?

16. Activity 4 – Europe in the world • Challenge: Europe facing a rising multi-polar world • The future evolution of global governance and the place of Europe • Monitoring and analysis of critical /emerging areas (potential conflicts over resources, areas of influence or values) • Post or new “hegemony” with regard to the role of the US, change in the EU “civil power” • The process by which certain values come to be contested or shared; their influence on international co-operation and multilateral institutions.

17. Activity 4 – Europe in the world • Topics • (funded as SICA – i.e. dedicated to international co-operation) • Collective challenges for Latin American and Caribbean Countries • Understanding urbanisation trends and processes in contemporary China • Cultures of governance and conflict resolution in Europe and India

18. Activity 5 – The citizen in the European Union • Challenge: Democracy and the shadows of totalitarianism and populism: the European experience • History and historical memory as objects and channels of EU politics and policies within Europe and in relation to other areas of the world • Experiences of totalitarianism and of resistance to it • The democratic development of the EU and the rise of populism in older and new democracies • The circulation of different experiences, political legal and administrative cultures, political organisations in the European political space and influence in shaping decision-making in the EU

19. Activity 5 – The citizen in the European Union Topics • European identities: inner and outer perceptions of Europe and EU • Re-interpreting Europe’s cultural heritage: towards the 21st century library and museum

20. “The ocean of tomorrow: joining research forces to meet challenges in ocean management” • Joint call with Food, Energy, Environment and Transport programmes • Large –scale integrated multi-disciplinary projects up to €12 m • Quantification of climate change impacts on economic sectors in the Arctic • Vectors of changes in marine life, impact on economic sectors • Sub-seabed carbon storage and the marine environment

21. 2010 W.P. Eligibility and evaluation criteria • Detailed description of eligibility and evaluation criteria in Annex 2 of the “Co-operation” Specific Programme Work Programme, and Annex 2 of Guides for Applicants • The scientific and/or technological excellence evaluation criterion will include the following additional sub-criterion: appropriate comparative perspective and the largest possible European coverage in relation to the subject of research. • Closing dates – in general 2nd February 2010

22. Further information UK government sponsored site • www.fp7uk.co.uk UK Research Office in Brussels (funded by universities and research councils) • www.ukro.ac.uk Commission’s SSH “home page” • http://ec.europa.eu/research/social-sciences/index_en.html UK National Contact Point for SSH - Samantha McGregor Email: sshncp@esrc.ac.uk 01793 413141