Framework Programmes

As the European Commission develops its ideas about the future shape and structure of support for research funding in Europe, the British Academy has been concerned to defend the interests of research in the humanities and social sciences in Europe.

In December 2010, the Academy called a meeting of European academies to consider the successes and challenges of Framework Programme 7 (2007-13), and to discuss the role of social sciences and humanities research in any future programme. The meeting, held on 1 and 2 December at the British School at Rome, was attended by representatives of sixteen academies and ALLEA (All European Academies).

The outcome of the meeting was the Rome document (DOC file - 693 KB).

The British Academy responded in December 2010 to the BIS Call for Evidence on the EU Framework Programme. The response is available here (DOC file - 252 KB).

The European Commissioner for Research and Innovation, Máire Geoghegan-Quinn, met British Academy Foreign Secretary Professor Duncan Gallie and Foreign Secretary-elect Professor Dame Helen Wallace, when the Commissioner spoke on EU research and innovation policy at the Royal Society in February 2011.

On 31 March 2011, the British Academy and ALLEA organised a meeting at the Palais des Académies in Brussels on Humanities and Social Sciences in Europe beyond the EU Framework Programme 7, with the aim of developing further the Rome document in the light of the Green Paper Towards a Common Strategic Framework for EU research and innovation funding. The meeting was attended by representatives of 24 academies. Presentations were given by members of the European Commission staff. The programme is available here. Also, the report on the meeting is available here (DOC file - 43 KB).

Subsequently, the Academy drew upon the discussions in Brussels in formulating its response to the European Commission’s Green Paper. The Academy’s position paper is available here (PDF file - 47 KB).

The Academy makes the case for a fully integrated approach to the Grand Challenges facing Europe, with research focusing on the social response to the impact of challenges such as climate change and food security, as well as to the scientific aspects. In addition, the Academy advocates

• dedicating resources to a Grand Challenge focused on the major policy issues raised by the changing economic, social and cultural dynamics of European societies: Memory, identity and cultural change; Employment, education and working lives; and Inequality, social change and the quality of life
• ensuring that research structures support the development and integration of the European Research Area
• increasing resources for curiosity-driven research supported by the European Research Council
• ensuring research infrastructures for humanities and social science research across Europe are supported and enhanced
• simplifying procedures and bureaucracy in the European Commission, and increasing flexibility

In a keynote speech at the British Academy on 10 November 2011, the European Commissioner for Research, Innovation and Science, Máire Geoghegan-Quinn, underlined the importance of the social sciences and humanities and announced they would have a central role in Horizon 2020.

Read the EU Commissioner Announces Central Role For Social Sciences and Humanities news story.