Abstract
Since the 1980s, the European Union (and predecessors) invests in the promotion of a ‘European Research Area’. Framework Programmes were created, numbered consecutively. In January 2014, the current Framework Programme, was launched. This article looks back at 30 years of EU research funding development, and it sketches the future of EU research funding with a focus on Social-Sciences and Humanities (SSH). Horizon 2020– that is the keyword for the new strategy; the article gives a general outline on what we can expect in this framework. Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH) have always had a hard time securing EU-funding. It is the special focus of the article to illuminate the position of SSH-research, including an encouragement for more pro-active participation of researchers in the processes of designing and shaping new work programmes for Horizon 2020.
Zusammenfassung
Seit den 1980er Jahren investiert die Europäische Union (bzw. ihre Vorgänger-Organisationen) in die Förderung des ‚Europäischen Forschungsraums‘. Entwickelt wurden Förderprogramme, die bis dato einfach durchnummeriert wurden. Anfang 2014 wurde das aktuelle siebenjährige Forschungsrahmenprogramm veröffentlicht. Dieser Beitrag schaut auf 30 Jahre der Entwicklung von Forschungsförderung in der EU zurück. Zugleich wirft er einen Blick in die Zukunft. Erläutert wird die neue Förderstrategie ‚Horizon 2020‘; es werden die Grundlinien dessen präsentiert, was im Rahmen dieser Strategie an Forschungsförderung zu erwarten ist. Die sozial- und geisteswissenschaftliche Forschung hat schon immer einen schweren Stand im Kampf um die Forschungsförderung gehabt; in Horizont 2020 sind die Fördermöglichkeiten zwar breiter, aber auch grundsätzlich hürdenreicher für die SSH geworden. Das besondere Augenmerk des Artikels liegt darauf, die Position der sozial- und geisteswissenschaftlichen Forschung genauer zu beleuchten. Im positiven Ausblick rät die Autorin zu einer stärker proaktiven Teilnahme der Sozial- und Geisteswissenschaft an den Prozessen der inhaltlichen Entwicklung der neuen Arbeitsprogramme für Horizon 2020.
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Notes
SYNOPSES OF TSER PROJECTS FUNDED AS A RESULT OF THE THREE CALLS FOR PROPOSALS (1995/1996–1997/1998), EUROPEAN COMMISSION DG-XII SCIENCE RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT. See ec.europa.eu/research/social-sciences/pdf/tser_fp4_en.pdf.
COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION “EUROPE 2020 A strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth”, Brussels, 3.3.2010.
Máire GEOGHEGAN-QUINN, European Commissioner for Research, Innovation and Science “The future of Social Sciences and Humanities in Horizon 2020” http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_SPEECH-11-741_en.htm?locale=en.
The EU Parliament was involved in the debate on SSH involvement early on in the debate. Two notable events were: May 2, 2011- Panel discussion on social science and humanities in the European Parliament; September 18, 2012– Discussion “Europe 2020– Designing research for European societies in a changing world” under the auspices of Dr. Christian Ehler.
Compare – Assessing the impact of social science research: conceptual, methodological and practical issues. A background discussion paper for ESRC Symposium on Assessing Non-Academic Impact of Research. May 2005.
All necessary information can be found on the EU website: http://ec.europa.eu/research/participants/portal/page/funding.
Contact Information for NCPs, as well as SSH specific information can be found on the Net4Society website: http://www.net4society.eu/.
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Schindler-Daniels, A. Shaping the Horizon: social sciences and humanities in the EU framework programme “Horizon 2020”. Z Erziehungswiss 17 (Suppl 6), 179–194 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11618-014-0580-8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11618-014-0580-8