Under Horizon Europe, the effective integration of SSH in all clusters, including all Missions and European partnerships, is a principle throughout the programme. The aim of SSH integration is to improve the assessment of and response to complex societal issues. Thus, SSH are a key constituent of research and innovation, especially regarding the twin green and digital transitions.
Therefore, where relevant, the R&I chain should include contributions from SSH disciplines such as sociology, economics, psychology, political science, history, cultural sciences or/and the arts.
Many topics invite contributions from the SSH, often in collaboration with non-SSH disciplines such as natural and physical sciences, health sciences or technology. These topics have been ‘flagged’ and can be found on the Funding & Tenders Portal. Proposals under these topics are expected to integrate the SSH perspective (social, economic, behavioural, institutional, historical and/or cultural dimensions etc), as appropriate. Applicants should therefore ensure that:
• contributions from SSH disciplines are integrated throughout their proposed project, and
• the actions required, participants and disciplines involved as well as the added value of SSH contributions are clearly stated in the proposal.
This document compiles the “SSH-flagged topics” and is based on an analysis of SSH-relevant topics carried out in the unit of the EC Directorate-General for Research and Innovation that is responsible for Social Sciences and Humanities. The document also includes a few additional topics that, while not flagged, in the authors’ view, require the contribution of Social Sciences and Humanities researchers.
This document serves as a guideline and is meant to demonstrate the wealth of possibilities for scientists in Social Sciences and Humanities within Horizon Europe and includes:
Researchers are strongly encouraged to screen the Work Programmes themselves, in order not to lose out on research opportunities offered to their specific interest. In any case, the Work Programmes need to be read in more detail to be aware about the overall approach of the Theme, the context of the topics, rules for participation and other specific requirements. At the same time, the topic texts may include footnotes with more information, which could not be included in the compiled topic texts within this document.
The structure of the document is determined by the degree of SSH integration in the different Horizon Europe programme parts. Instead of following the numerical order of the different parts in Horizon Europe this report starts with Pillar II – Global challenges and European Industrial Competitiveness that includes “top down” topics and the highest amount of SSH research dimensions, the Clusters. It continues with the SSH aspects in Pillar II – Excellent science (mostly “bottom up” opportunities). In the following chapter, the Opportunities in the Widening Participation and Strengthening the European Research Area are presented. Last but not least, the SSH-relevant topics in open calls of the Missions are included.
©Bridge2HE, October 2021
To consult the document, please visit the website of Horizon Europe NCP Portal.
