Experiences from coordinating an EU- research network (FP6) Magnus Nermo Swedish Institute for Social Research (SOFI) Stockholm University Seminar at Vinnova November 3, 2008

EQUALSOC is a Network of Excellence funded by the European Union’s Sixth Framework Programme. Economic change, quality of life and social cohesion Main aims: –Stimulate high quality comparative European research –Encourage the development of additional research centres –Infrastructure for training young researchers –Facilitate access to results of research for the wider research community and for policy makers.

The network involve about researchers from 14 partners (11 countries) across Europe in economics, political science, social policy and sociology Project period Coordinator Robert Erikson, SOFI Budget € ActivitiesGeneral Conferences and workshops. Fund comparative research projects. Travel, longer visits, and research assistance

Partners of the network Institutet för social forskning (SOFI), Stockholms Universitet Amsterdam Instituut voor ArbeidsStudies (AIAS-SCHOLAR) Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Paris Universita Di Trento Economic and Social Research Institute ESRI, Dublin Mannheimer Zentrum fur Europäische Sozialforschung (MZES) Nuffield College, Oxford University Universita Degli Studi Di Milano-Bicocca Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona Universita Di Torino University of Tartu Wissenschaftzentrum Berlin (WZB) Centre for Social Policy (CSB), Antwerp Charles University, Prague

Six research groups EDUC: Education, Social Mobility and Social Cohesion EMPLOY: Employment and the Labour Market FAMNET: Family and Social Networks INCDIS: Income Distribution, Consumption and Income Mobility SOCCULT: Cultural and Social Differentiation TRALEG: Trust, Associations and Legitimacy : 34 on-going projects

Governing Council Coordinator/ management Scientific Committee 6 Research groups 34 ongoing projects workshops Data support Training and development. Summer schools Methods workshops Visitorsship prog. Comm. and dissemination Website Newsletter Policy conference External advisory board

Applying for EU-grants Somewhat more complicated –For networks: be broad, i.e. countries, disciplines, research questions –EC require more detail in applications including person month budgets. – An approval does not mean that you will receive a pile of money Things to keep in mind (besides the application): –Flexibility A network core based on personal relations Include institutes with previous EU-experience Skilled administrators –All costs may not be covered Have a reserve and be prepared to wait for reimbursement EC distribute 85% of the yearly budget. Remaining part is reimbursed afterwards (after approval of all costs)

Disadvantages and potential problems Bureaucracy at the Commission and the member states Extensive reporting once a year –Financial –Scientific, State of the art reports EC models for reimbursement –Additional cost models (50% co-financing) –Full cost models (100% financing) National interpretations of EC rules Different “cultures” may cause problems

Advantages Create new contacts. Bring about new co-operations Deepen existent contacts Facilitate access to European data (through EUROSTAT) Increase the research quality, get new ideas, perspectives Increase your competitiveness nationally and internationally Above All Great opportunities for PhD students and Post Docs –Summer schools –Own personal contacts –Longer visits at different European institutes –New projects

Questions?

Disposition 1) Brief description of the network 2) Applying for EU-funding 3) Disadvantages 4) Advantages