The EU research and innovation programme, Horizon2020, has entered its final year. A call for project proposals addressing the societal challenge “Europe in a changing world” is still open for application until 12 March 2020.
With a total budget of 77 billion euros for the period 2014-2020, Horizon 2020 is the largest research and innovation support programme in the world. The third part, which is the 6th Societal Challenge, "Europe in a Changing World – Inclusive, Innovative and Reflective Societies", opens up great opportunities for the humanities and social sciences.
In 2020 the call for project proposals, addressing this societal challenge, is open for application until 12 March 2020. 178 million Euro in total will be invested for projects working on migration, socio-economic and cultural transformations in the context of the fourth industrial revolution and governance for the future. The result of the evaluation will be published by mid-August 2020, and the grant agreements with the project teams should be signed by the end of November 2020 (for further information).
One example, which will be of interest for researchers of the humanities and social sciences, is "Developing deliberative and participatory democracies through experimentation". Proposals should outline methods and policies by which democratic practices can be strengthened in order to rebuild trust in political, economic and social institutions. Other topics are the research on migration, the media landscape or cultural tourism, for example.
In order to facilitate researchers' access to EU funds, there is a network of National Contact Points (NCPs) in all European Member States and in the countries associated to Horizon 2020. This network provides advice on every aspect of the European Framework Programme and gives personalized support during the proposal procedure. In Germany, it’s the NKS Society (Nationale Kontaktstelle Gesellschaft).
The NCP-experts help researchers to identify funding opportunities in the 6th Societal Challenge in Horizon 2020, set up consortia and formulate their applications. In addition, the NCPs provide information about possible participation by the humanities and social sciences in other research areas, since participation by the humanities and social sciences is possible and desired in almost all areas of Horizon 2020!
Those who wish to work on a multinational level, can address Net4Society, the international network of National Contact Points for the Societal Challenge 6 in Horizon 2020. Net4Society includes the European and International National Contact Points of almost 50 countries. From information and tenders to advice and the search for partners, up to conference reports – researchers and stakeholders in the humanities and social sciences will find almost everything they need on the Net4Society platform to successfully apply for and carry out projects in the EU Research Framework Programme Horizon 2020.
If you missed the Horizon 2020 opportunities, there is more to come: With a proposed budget of 100 billion euro over seven years, the next research and innovation framework programme “Horizon Europe” (2021-2027) may become the EU’s largest R&I framework programme ever. Horizon Europe builds on the success of Horizon 2020 and introduces a number of new features to continue to make a real difference in the lives of citizens and society as a whole. Therefore, Horizon Europe will offer huge opportunities for humanities and social sciences.
The European Commission Horizon Europe site gives an overview of the development of the next research and innovation framework programme. The latest Horizon Europe Factsheet, December 2019 you’ll find here. Check for updates regularly.
