Project Synopses
Horizon 2020 Cultural Heritage and European Identities - List of projects 2014-2017

This publication presents an overview of past and ongoing research projects in the area of Cultural Heritage and European Identities. Some basic information is provided for each project; readers willing to explore further are referred to projects websites and other resources.
Great Start in Life! - The Best Possible Education in the Early Years

Early childhood education and care is key for preventing the transmission of disadvantage across generations, for addressing child poverty and social exclusion, for providing Europe with skilled citizens, able to contribute to growth, innovation, justice, democracy, in line with the Europe 2020.
Strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth. However, European Union education and child care systems are challenged more and more by reductions in public expenditure and the increasing need to accommodate growing ethnic, cultural and linguistic diversity as well as socio-economic inequalities.
The EU research Framework Programmes for Research and Innovation (Horizon 2020 and FP7) have funded a substantial body of research on issues related to early childhood education and care. Their results support policy makers in developing more effective policies.
These education policies are also reinforced by EU funding programmes like Erasmus+, which support early childhood staff and teachers in introducing effective educational practices. A selection of projects and partnerships supported by these programmes is also presented in this publication.
Global Justice & Stability: Research and Innovation Projects

Social sciences and humanities research projects funded under the European Union’s Framework Programmes for Research and Innovation cover several aspects relevant for the EU’s external actions and contribute to the evidence base and sound understanding of the external environment that the EU operates in, in particular when it comes to understanding the cultural complexity of the EU’s partners.
R & I Projects in support of the European Policy - Migration and Mobility

Beyond current events, migration has been a key topic in Europe for quite some time. On the one hand, it is argued that migrants’ host countries are enriched by cultural diversity and that migration contributes to the development of sending countries. Europe’s population decline also makes migration from third countries a possible option to increase the size of the working age population in the short-medium term. On the other hand, the increasing diversity of our societies triggers debates about the consequences of migration for social cohesion.
This publication presents an overview of past and ongoing research projects in the above mentioned areas. Some basic information is provided for each project; readers willing to explore further are referred to projects websites and other resources.
Our Neighbours - R & I in support of the EU’s Neighbourhood Policy

As identified by President Juncker in his July 2014 speech to the European Parliament, and as re-affirmed in his State of the Union speech in September 2015, the European Union needs a stronger and more assertive foreign policy. As the conflict in Ukraine, developments following the Arab Spring in the Middle East, and the current refugee crisis have made urgently clear, there is the need of a common foreign policy that can first and foremost contribute to stabilising the EU’s neighbourhood.
In the present publication is presented the various finalised and ongoing social sciences and humanities research projects covering this issue as well as presentations of future calls and topics under Horizon 2020 relevant for the European Neighbourhood Policy.
Mind the Gap - European Research for Combating Inequalities

Tackling inequalities is a political imperative for the European Commission and President Juncker has placed it high in his political agenda. This was underlined by his commitment to create a Europe with a ‘Triple A Social Rating’ and to strengthen the European Social Model through a pillar of social rights. Addressing inequalities is not only a matter of solidarity but also of economic expediency. Scientific evidence shows that higher levels of inequality are not conducive to economic growth and can have negative implications for macroeconomic stability. Inequality creates «negative externalities» for growth since it can potentially lead to higher social conflict, increased rent-seeking behaviour leading to misallocation of resources, lower social mobility leading to underinvestment in human capital and fewer educational opportunities for low income groups. Growth in more unequal countries is also less effective in lowering poverty.
This publication presents the most relevant projects in the Social Sciences and Humanities who have taken up the task of addressing the wider issues of inequality, exclusion and social welfare. The projects are a source of ground breaking conceptual work, extensive quantitative comparisons and surveys, profound and in-depth qualitative forays into social challenges and importantly concrete, evidence-based policy recommendations.
Boosting jobs - The Contribution of European Research

The European Commission has an important role to play in putting employment in a sustainable path and narrowing gaps between Member States. Growth and jobs are at the core of the Commission’s agenda for the next 5 years, while President Juncker has made explicit his vision for achieving a «Social Triple A». The Investment Plan will mobilise investments of at least €315 billion in three years. Additionally, the Commission announced a package of measures to support Member States in getting people, especially the long-term unemployed, into work and promote skills.
Time to Grow: Emerging Knowledge Base for Growth Policy in Europe

Economic growth has a top priority on the agenda of European economic policy. Since the 2008 economic crisis, Europe’s growth performance has been sluggish and incapable of reaching the level of growth in the USA, which has recovered much faster from the economic crisis. The low growth and high unemployment in Europe has negative effects on the lives of European citizens and on European states. It has entailed increased inequality and raised new sustainability issues. However, at the same time, Europe’s growth pattern has experienced important qualitative changes as Europe has become more knowledge based and globalised, and solving the current challenges provides new growth opportunities, as social innovation shows.
Open the Door: Social Science Research for Development and a Sustainable Future

Development aid is the most visible and most successful field of the European Union’s complex external actions. The European Union and its 28 Member States are, together, still the largest development donors worldwide and have played a leading role in the efforts to achieve the United Nations’ Millennium Development Goals. The EU has also proved to be a reliable and predictable actor during the negotiations of the new Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations that will shape global development strategies for the years to come.
This publication presents the most relevant projects on development funded under the Seventh Framework Programme for research and technological development (FP7).
Their Future is Our Future: Youth as Actors of Change

In the context of the changing demographic structure of society, Europe's future prosperity and sustainability largely depend on its ability to take advantage of the potential of all generations. In times of economic and financial crisis in particular, Europe needs a strong young generation to be a driver of sustainable and inclusive growth that will ensure long-term development. Youth represents the backbone of future Europe and we need to prepare the generation that will lead and support the EU in 2040 and after.
Socio-economic Sciences and Humanities: List of projects 2007-2013

Why do inequalities in Europe increase? What are the social and economic impacts of the 2008 crisis? Can Europe help stabilise its neighbour countries? Is political extremism and radicalisation threatening Europe? What are the worst illnesses of our democratic systems in Europe? These are some of the many crucial questions that the 'Socio-economic sciences and the humanities’ (SSH) in the Seventh Framework Programme (2007-2013) has tackled.
The SSH FP7 programme was in fact the biggest research programme for SSH in the world. It funded 250 projects for a total of 579 Million Euros. In the process, it brought together close to 3,000 institutional partners in the SSH research fields. These partners represent not only the 28 EU countries, but also an additional 65 countries worldwide on all continents.
European Union Research in Foresight

Foresight is necessary to have a better European governance. It sheds light on the future trends, challenges, tensions and transitions that Europe could face in demographic, economic, social and technological developments. Foresight research encompasses both qualitative and quantitative methods.
Qualitative approaches are most often participatory and allow definition of long-term policy strategies. Modelling helps to quantify technoeconomic issues dealing with food supply, energy security and environmental targets. The foresight research promoted by the European Commission under the seventh framework programme (socio-economic sciences and humanities - SSH) includes scenarios, horizon scanning, forecasting, roadmapping, back-casting and technology assessment as well as new indicators, models, Delphi surveys and participatory workshops.
Europe as a global actor - European Socio-Economic Sciences and Humanities Research Projects under the Seventh Framework Programme (2007-2013)
Research on social innovation: Inventory of projects funded under the EU Research Framework Programmes
Socio-economic Sciences and Humanities - Synopsis of FP7 SSH projects 2011-2012
European Research - Socio-economic Sciences and Humanities - List of projects 2007-2010 - 7th Framework Programme
2010, EUR 24470 EN, ISBN 978-92-79-16227-5, doi: 10.2777+87149, 316 pages
Social Sciences and Humanities in FP6, Priority 7 and 8 - all calls 2002-2006 - Projects's Synopses
Brussels, 2007, EUR 22848, ISBN 978-92-79-05738-0, 468 pages
European Union-supported educational research 1995-2003
Briefing papers for policy makers, Brussels, September 2003, 204 pages, ISBN 92-894-5770-8
European Union-supported research in Social Sciences and Humanities, 1998-2005
Briefing papers from 120 projects funded by TSER Programme and Key Action "Improving the Socio-economic Knowledge Base", Brussels, 2008, EUR 21538-EN, ISBN 978-92-79-08003-6, DOI 10.2777/45062, 172 pages
EU Supported Research on Migration and Integration, 1995/2008
Projects' synopses, Brussels, 2008, 59 pages
Key Action Project Synopses, 1st, 2nd and 3rd call for proposals
Brussels, 2003, 456 pages, ISBN 92-5213-7. Catalogue of 185 projects funded under the FP5 Key Action "Improving the Socio-economic Knowledge Base", 1999/2002
European Union-supported research in Social Sciences and Humanities, 1998-2005
Briefing papers from 120 projects funded by TSER Programme and Key Action "Improving the Socio-economic Knowledge Base", Brussels, 2006, EUR n° 21538, ISBN 92-79-01299-1, 280 pages
TSER Project Synopses, all calls for proposals (1995/1998)
357 pages, Brussels, 2000
Latest

EU Social Platforms: A review on an experiment in collaborative research design
Presenting those FP7 SSH research projects, which took up the task of understanding the (lack of) European growth dynamism and Europe’s readiness to enter into a new and sustainable growth path