Why does the EU support social sciences and humanities (SSH) research?
The social sciences and humanities research help Europe understand and respond to some of its most pressing challenges: the resilience of democratic institutions, the future of work in an age of artificial intelligence, migration governance, safeguarding a rich and shared cultural heritage, equalities and social cohesion in diverse and ageing societies.
From sociology to economics, philosophy to arts, history to archaeology, social sciences and humanities can provide the evidence, the concepts and the foresight that Europe needs.
This matters because the EU proudly stands for a distinctive model: the European social market economy. Here economic strength is combined with high levels of social protection and inclusion, grounded in shared values — peace, democracy, human rights, equality — and in the richness of Europe's cultural diversity.
Through Cluster 2 of Horizon Europe (2021–2027), the EU's research and innovation funding programme, the Commission funds research across the full breadth of this agenda: provide knowledge, data and scientifically robust recommendations to reinvigorate and strengthen democratic governance, improve critical thinking and trust in democratic institutions; support research and innovation to boost sustainable growth and job creation, for example in the cultural and creative industries; develop new ways to valorise heritage to address challenges like climate change, or to thrive in an increasingly digital world; help tackle social, economic and political inequalities, support human capital development and contribute to a comprehensive European strategy for inclusive growth.
SSH expertise is also built into research across the other ‘Clusters’ of the Horizon Europe. Knowledge and innovation in areas such as climate, health and digital solutions require an understanding of the factors that make people trust, afford and use them; these are the type of questions technology alone cannot answer.
The results reach beyond academia, into EU policy, into the work of national and local governments, and into the hands of citizens, civil society and the cultural sector.
Policy Focus
- Cultural heritage and Cultural and Creative Industries (CCIs)
- Cultural Heritage Cloud
- Democracy and governance
- Employment and new growth
- European research and innovation for intergenerational fairness
- Gender equality in research and innovation
- Global justice and stability
- Migration and mobility
- Reversing inequalities
- SSH integration
Funding opportunities
Calls for proposal in SSH are mainly in Cluster 2: Culture, Creativity and Inclusive society
Projects and results
The Commission's primary portal for results of EU-funded research projects
Stories of particularly successful EU-funded research projects
Results of projects that help explain the political situation and provide recommendations on how policymakers, citizens and other organisations can better respond to the challenges facing European democracy.
Results of projects that highlight EU-funded social sciences research to better understand the challenges and opportunities surrounding migration and migrant integration in Europe.
Results of projects that have created digital technologies that help to ensure the preservation of Europe’s cultural heritage.
Platform where framework programme funding recipients present their results to search, contact their owners and form partnerships
Access to real-time programme data with the ability to filter by country, region, theme and more
Commission initiative to identify high potential innovations and innovators in EU-funded research and innovation framework programmes.
Success stories
Researchers are studying dogs’ ability to control and change their voices in the hope of shedding light on one of evolution’s biggest mysteries: the origins of human speech.
- Project locations
- Hungary
To better understand these shifts, the EU-funded CHANSE project launched a transnational call for projects focused on social and cultural dynamics in the digital age.
- Project locations
- Poland, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom
Collaboration and jobs
Researcher jobs in related fields
Find partners for open calls for proposal and view profiles of organisations that have previously received funding through the funding and tenders portal
Scientific publications, tools and databases
Single point of access to open data produced by the EU institutions - all data free to use for commercial and non-commercial purposes
All scientific publications from Horizon Europe and H2020 are accessible via OpenAIRE.
