ISSC-Conference„SOCIAL SCIENCE AND SOCIAL POLICY

IN THE 21st CENTURY“ Vienna/VIC, December 9-11, 2002

Contribution to Special Session 9:Development of Social Sciences in selected countries

„SOCIAL SCIENCES IN THE EUROPEAN UNION“

Josef HochgernerCentre for Social Innovation

SCIENCE - RESEARCH - SOCIETY

MAJOR CHALLENGES

Population growth

Environmental issues

Unemployment

Polarised income distribution

Decreasing welfare indicated by ISEW

Working conditions and business organisation

Knowledge economy

Societal continuity and disruptions

Facts Figures

Establishment of first EC research programmes 1957

Framework Programmes (FP) forResearch and Technology Development (RTD) 1983

Specific EU research activities on social sciences 1994

EC Communication “Towards a European Reseach Area/ERA” 2000

FP4 (1994-1998): TSER (“Targeted Socio-Economic Research”) 105 Mio EuroFP5 (1998-2002): Key Action

(“Improving the socio-economic knowledge base”) 165 Mio EuroFP6: Priority 7 (“Citizens and Governance in a knowledge based society”) 225 Mio EuroBudget share of Priority 7 in FP6 (of a total of 17,5 Bill. Euro) 1,3 % (P7 budget share of all Thematic Priorities = 2% of 11,285 Bill. Euro)

SOCIAL SCIENCES IN EU FUNDING FOR RTD

Achievements of the Key Action

Mobilising European researchers in over 200 projects with some 1500 teams involved Overcoming segmented approach by disciplines (as with TSER) Integrating research communities from candidate countries (10%) Stimulating additional funding from other sources (Catalyst function) Contributing to societal debate in Europe (most still to come)[Source: A. Sors, DG Research/Unit SER]

FROM FP 5 („KEY ACTION“) TO FP 6 („PRIORITY“)

The broader picture

EU FP biggest funding scheme for transnational research in social sciences

Other actors play important roles European Science Foundation COST INTAS (NIS) UNESCO (Balkans) Regional cooperation schemes (Nordic Council) Bilateral agreements…

Need for coordination in the ERA

INTERNATIONAL RELEVANCE OF EU FUNDED RESEARCH IN SOCIAL SCIENCES

ECONOMY AND SOCIETY IN TRANSITION

Cultural bridges: New methods of work, organisation and learning

Industrial SocietyIndustrial Society Industrial production of goods

and services transformed agrarian society

Value creation: Goods and services Productive factors: Soil + Labour + Capital

Success dependent on efficient use of labour

[20th century]

Information SocietyInformation Society

Information networks and the knowledge economy transforming industrial society

Value creation: Knowledge and access Productive factors: Soil + Labour + Capital +

Information Success dependent on efficient use of resources [21st century]

TOPICAL EU POLICY OBJECTIVES INVOLVING RTD

„eEurope“: Activities and policies concerning the development of the knowledge society in Europe

Objectives of the Lisbon Summit, March 2000: „To become the most competititve and dynamic knowledge-based economy capable of sustainable ecomomic growth with more and better jobs and greater social cohesion“ Developing the European Research Area (ERA) Most relevant instrument: 6th Framework Programme Establish reliable and comprehensive benchmarks for RTD Mapping and promotion of excellence in science and RTD EC Action Plan eEurope 2005, June 2002

BENCHMARKING EUROPEAN RTD:FIRST RESULTS

World standards

The gap to USA and Japan is increasing

Permanent flow of researchers to the US (EU brain drain)

EU provides relatively higher numbers of PhD graduates

EU lags behind concerning RTD output (S&Tproductivity)

Internal EU comparison

RTD Investments too low to achieve targets set in Lisbon

Exceptions with outstanding performance: Finland, Sweden

Shortfall of RTD investment is due to the private sector

Human resource development deserves attention in all MS

Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH)

“Universal” message - “national” funding Fragmentation by disciplines and different research traditions Urgent need for informed advice for “better” European policy making Particularly sensitive for all sorts of cooperation / coordination / integration / harmonisation / concentration Strategic role much greater than actual market share in FP6 funding

STRATEGIC CONSIDERATIONS

6th FRAMEWORK PROGRAMME

Instruments

Shared cost projects

20% of the budget (decreasing)

Integrated projects

3-5 years, 15 mEuro+

Networks of Excellence

5 years or more, very few

Thematic priorities

Genomics & Biotechnology Information Society Technologies Nanosciences & materials Aeronautics & Space Food Quality & Safety Sustainability & Ecosystems The Knowledge-based Society

Expressions of Interest (EoI): June 7, 2002First Calls for Proposals: December 17, 2002

First deadlines for submission of proposals: April 2003

FP6 - SOCIO-ECONOMIC RESEARCH TOPICS

Priority 7: Citizens and Governance in a Knowledge based society Knowledge-based society and social cohesion

Knowledge and its impact on economic and social development Choices for the development of a knowledge-based society The variety paths towards a knowledge society

Citizenship, democracy and new forms of governance Implications of European integration and enlargement Areas of responsibility and new forms of multi-level governance Resolution of conflicts and restoration of peace and justice New forms of citzenship and cultural identities

Priority 2: Information Society Technologies and (as ageneral principle) horizontal issues in all other priorities

The instruments to be used Networks of Excellence (NoE) Integrated Projects (IP) Specific targeted research Projects (STRP) Specific Support Actions (SSA)

Information on ERA and FP6 Work Programmeshttp://www.cordis.lu/rtd2002/

Publication of EoI submissions

http://www.cordis.lu/fp6/eoi-instruments

KEY INFORMATION CONCERNING PRIORITY 7

CAN SSH MEET THE NEW CHALLENGES?

Most common weaknesses of SSH research in Europe

Lack of infrastructures in SSH

Sub-critical size of most institutes

Too little concertation between European and national programmes

National boundaries of research methodologies, concepts and approaches (less developed internationalisation)

MEASURES PROPOSED FOR DISCUSSION

Most important structural support programmes

(1) Infrastructures development based on national and FP6-programmes Earmarked funds distinguishing between public and private research organisations Improving ICT networks, data bank and communication facilities

(2) Action plan to promote internationalisation of SSH research Career advancement particularly for young scientists Development and support of innovative forms of collaboration among private SMRs (“Small and Medium Research organisations”), universities, industries and public authorities

(3) Adjustment of national and European funding systems Compatible programmes concerning topics and operational aspects Suitable criteria of eligibility and real cost calculation National co-funding of European research projects

New topics and ICT usage in science and research open up a „window of opportunity“ for SSH; however:

In Canada the „Foundation for Innovation“ provided 1 Bill. CDN-D for the development of research infrastructure; concerning the SSH the following observation was made: „...our disciplines were slower to respond, largely because we haven‘t spent much time thinking about ... our collective infrastructure needs“.

Thus a major objective is to extend capacities and flexibility in SSH:„We must be able not only to move between traditional disciplinary and geographic boundaries. We must also build new capabilities and reflexes of co-ordination, collaboration and communication ... between researchers and people from other walks of life.“

[Source: OECD 2000, „Social Sciences for a Digital World“]

INTERNATIONAL REFERENCE

ZENTRUM FÜR SOZIALE INNOVATIONCENTRE FOR SOCIAL INNOVATION

Josef HochgernerKoppstraße 116/11

A-1160 WienTel.: ++43.1.495 04 42

Fax.: ++43.1.495 04 42-40e-Mail: hochgerner@zsi.at

URL: http://www.zsi.at