Social Sciences and Humanities in Europe: New Challenges, New Opportunities “The influence of the Framework Programmes in Social Sciences and Humanities in Portugal” Teresa Patricio ISCTE – Instituto Superior de Ciências do Trabalho e da Empresa Brussels, December 2005
Social Sciences and Humanities in Europe: New Challenges, New Opportunities The influence of the Framework Programmes on the social sciences and humanities: - How do EU FPs provide opportunities to expand national research capabilities? - How do extended research networks across Europe enlarge the scientific community? - How is social science research integrated into various fields of policy making and implementation? - How can the analyses of the Portuguese case inform us about other similar cases?
Social Sciences and Humanities in Europe: New Challenges, New Opportunities European RTD Framework Programmes: TSER Targeted Socio-economic research ( ) Key action on “Improving the Socio-economic Knowledge Base” ( ) “ Citizens & Governance”; “Science and Society” ( ) FP7 – ( ) Instruments: Shared cost actions, Specific Targeted Research Projects, Integrated Projects, Networks of Excellence, Co- ordinated Actions, Specific Support Actions, Marie Curie Actions, Research Infrastructures, ERA-Nets
Social Sciences and Humanities in Europe: New Challenges, New Opportunities Systems of innovation Technology and innovation policy Organizational innovation, work, knowledge and the economy Human resources development & competence Gender/women Education, equality, exclusion Data infrastructure Social trends and structural changes Employment and work Quality of life Governance and citizenship Education and training Employment Technology and society Cities, local areas & exclusion /integration Innovation in education via technology Welfare & exclusion/integration Migrants, ethnic minorities Education to work New development models Social cohesion and welfare systems Economic development and dynamism Technology and society Eu enlargement
Social Sciences and Humanities in Europe: New Challenges, New Opportunities Information on framework programmes is widely available although sometimes dispersed and fragmented: Information available (CORDIS, national publications, programme committees) Information exchange through formal and informal channels, mapping of social sciences and humanities, mapping of excellence in economics, “best practices”, Info days, open sessions Co-ordination of national programmes; opening of national programmes; ERA-Net
Social Sciences and Humanities in Europe: New Challenges, New Opportunities Challenges for the social sciences and humanities: Problem-solving approach, integrating research results with societal and policy needs, evaluating and assessing policy impact Methodological, conceptual and technical difficulties of cross-country, cross-region, cross-city comparisons and evaluations Need to better measure and monitor - good longitudinal data available, collected and recorded according to standard measures and continuous over time
Social Sciences and Humanities in Europe: New Challenges, New Opportunities Portuguese participation: 4th, 5th and 6th Framework Programmes – about 120 projects with Portuguese participation have been funded in the socio-economic programmes Participation in other thematic areas (such as ageing, environment, information society) ERA-NET participation in the social sciences Participation in the European Social Survey Mobility programmes Evaluators, reviewers, panel committee members, advisory committees, expert committees European conferences, seminars, panel chairs, organisers
Social Sciences and Humanities in Europe: New Challenges, New Opportunities Portuguese assessment exercise of research units by international panels of experts (1996, 1999, 2002,...) to promote optimisation and stimulate the S&T system - Creation of 2 associate laboratories in the social sciences - Creation of interdisciplinary lab for the social sciences
Social Sciences and Humanities in Europe: New Challenges, New Opportunities Portuguese R&D - Recent study (2005) of 6674 R&D projects between concluded: Internationalization of different areas 31% Exact Sciences 27% Engineering and Technologies 27% Natural Sciences 19% Health Sciences 18% Social Sciences and Humanities 12% Agricultural Sciences
Social Sciences and Humanities in Europe: New Challenges, New Opportunities How do EU FPs provide opportunities to expand national research capabilities? + Joint research projects; comparative analysis; European data bases; the links to different organisations throughout Europe; co- funding mechanisms - all help create a more flexible, open and diversified research system - Links to establish complementarity with national funding agencies
Social Sciences and Humanities in Europe: New Challenges, New Opportunities How do extended research networks across Europe enlarge the scientific community? + A European dimension to problem-solving socio- economic research - Multidisciplinary and integrated approach
Social Sciences and Humanities in Europe: New Challenges, New Opportunities - How is social science research integrated into various fields of policy making and implementation? “Harnessing socio-economic research to the needs of society” - Knowledge diffusion (policymakers at Community and national level; - Knowledge mobilisation (reaching targeted groups, stakeholder involvement)
Social Sciences and Humanities in Europe: New Challenges, New Opportunities How can the Portuguese case inform us about other similar cases? Can it provide insights for European research in social sciences and humanities? Social attitudes and values shape the perception of the utility of socio-economic research; level of prestige and influence of social scientists; Attraction and retention levels; Expectations about the future
Social Sciences and Humanities in Europe: New Challenges, New Opportunities Teresa Patricio Department of Sociology Instituto Superior de Ciências do Trabalho e da Empresa Lisbon, Portugal