Why the EU supports social sciences and humanities (SSH) research
The EU stands for a unique way of combining economic growth with high levels of social protection and inclusion, shared values including democracy, human rights, gender equality, and the richness of cultural diversity.
This model is constantly evolving and needs to deal with multidimensional challenges.
Horizon 2020, the EU's research and innovation funding programme 2014-2020, devoted significant resources to fostering a greater understanding of Europe and providing solutions for inclusive, innovative and reflective European societies.
Building on these achievements, research and innovation activities under Horizon Europe, the current research and innovation funding programme will focus on democratic governance, cultural heritage, and social and economic transformations.
The priorities are interconnected and respond to the most pressing social, political, economic and cultural concerns and expectations of European citizens.
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
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
From war zones to coal mines and prison camps, a new generation of video games is helping museums bring history to life and reach audiences far beyond their walls.
- Project locations
- Austria, Belgium, Czechia, Greece, Ireland, Netherlands
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.
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