With the first calls for Horizon 2020 the EU’s R&D programme for 2014-2020 now open, researchers across Europe can get busy preparing proposals and dissecting the opportunities for funding available under each work programme. Here, Science|Business looks at ‘Europe in a changing world - inclusive, innovative and reflective societies’, which will receive €1.31 billion to find new ways of dealing with the economic crisis, tackle youth unemployment and strengthen the impact of research and innovation.
Social scientists may feel like the poor relations, with funding for this programme lower than all of the other six social challenges to be addressed under Horizon 2020 – the budget of €1.31 billion compares to a figure of €7.47 billion for health, demographic change and well-being, for example.
However, EU Commissioner for Research, Innovation and Science, Máire Geoghegan-Quinn, claims there is plenty of funding for social scientists, “If you look at the excellent science pillar, and the ERC in particular, there is almost €1 billion [greater] funding for social sciences than they ever had before,” she told Science|Business. “But on top of that, they have funding in the societal challenges pillar – huge funding,” she said. In addition, there is increased opportunity for participation in the industrial leadership pillar.
It’s not just a question of how much money is given to the programme, however, but also a question of how this funding will be spent. The two-year work programme will see a total of 43 topics funded, an “enormous multitude”, said Kurt Deketelaere, Secretary General of the League of European Research Universities (LERU). “It may have been a better idea to set aside half of this budget for a flagship programme, and use the remainder to fund a few other worthwhile topics,” he said.
Last week, (December 11), the Commission launched the first five calls for the programme, with a total spending of €112 million in 2014. These calls are: Overcoming the Crisis: New Ideas, Strategies and Governance Structures for Europe; the Young Generation in an Innovative, Inclusive and Sustainable Europe; Reflective Societies: Cultural Heritage and European Identities; Europe as a Global Actor; New Forms of Innovation.
This first call has been identified as one of twelve focus areas for the European Commission in 2014 and 2015, and will include socio-economic research on how to make the European economic and monetary union more resilient and stable, while also looking at the social, political and cultural consequences of the crisis. With a total budget of €35 million for the first year, this call will also include research into the future of urban areas and the potential for increased use of emerging ICT technologies in the public sector.
In a statement on the programme, LERU welcomed this call as an example of where the Commission has allocated sufficient amount of money to a limited number of topics – €35 million for six calls.
Helping Europe’s next generation maximise its potential
With an ageing population, Europe needs to capitalise fully on the potential of its youngest citizens. But the ongoing economic crisis means that the opposite is happening, with nearly one in four young people in the labour market unemployed, a rate that rises to 50 per cent in some regions.
Getting a foot on the career ladder is becoming more and more difficult and today’s graduates are faced with longer jobless periods, a higher likelihood of getting only temporary contracts and of getting a job below their qualification level.
This call, with a budget of €19 million in 2014, looks to provide policy-makers with a comprehensive picture of the current young generation – their capabilities, prospects and needs – in an attempt to improve the youth unemployment rate and to take advantage of the social and economic benefits young people can bring to the society. Actions will include mobility studies and research in adult education, while specific attention will be placed on gender equality aspects and the diversity of young people.
A third call, reflective societies: cultural heritage and European identities, has a budget of €23 million in 2014 to enhance understanding of Europe's intellectual and creative foundations and form the basis for a critical reflection of its historical, cultural and normative roots.
“This research will contribute to a more resilient, innovative and creative European society, pursuing the goal of 'Unity in diversity' a principle whose importance and relevance has been highlighted by the recent financial and economic crisis,” the Commission said.
To take one example, using digital technologies to enhance the understanding and preservation of European cultural heritage, through modelling and advanced search technologies, will allow for richer interpretations and user experiences, and for creative re-use.
Finding partners of strategic interest abroad The smallest budget amongst the five calls goes to ‘Europe as a global actor’, which has €8.35 million in 2014 to encourage strategic collaboration in research and innovation with international partners. It will cover neighbouring regions – including Turkey, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean.
This relatively small budget will be split over 12 topics, some of which are “overlapping” according to LERU. “Fewer and more innovative topics could have created a more robust call,” LERU said a statement.
New forms of innovation The final call – new forms of innovation – get €26.5 million in 2014 budget to look at the potential of public sector innovation, social innovation and new business models to improve productivity and competitiveness in Europe.
“ICT can be an important enabler of this innovation process, as the take-up of new technologies increases connectivity, collaboration and openness,” said the Commission in its work programme. “Moreover, the introduction of new processes will also transform the interaction between citizens, businesses and civil servants.”
The move towards open government, including making data, services and processes available to service users, requires a culture change and exchanging best practices would be helpful here.
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