The Social Sciences and the Humanities

With this paper DEA would like to contribute to the debate about how the Social Sciences and the Humanities (SSH) can contribute to solving future challenges for Europe and realising the Innovation Union. This position paper will propose an improved integration of the SSH in the European Commission’s future framework for research and innovation (Horizon 2020).

The complexity of the Grand Societal Challenges demand alternative solutions and new ways to exploit our academic competences in the best and broadest way possible. We believe that these challenges must be solved with contributions from many sciences in an interdisciplinary way. This is not done by losing the Social Sciences and Humanities, but by using it.

Our work in improving the integration of SSH in a future framework for research is of Danish interest and our work is financially supported by The Danish Council for Strategic Research.

In 2012 Denmark will hold the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, where some of the major strategic decisions about Horizon 2020 will be discussed and determined. The intent of this position paper is to serve as input to the debate concerning the way the European Commission should support research in SSH.

More information please contact:

Nanna Rosenfeldt, advisor

Tel: +45 3342 6609

Mob: +45 60 666 252

nr@dea.nu

Date: September 2011

Design: Anne-Sofie Thomsen

Print: Scanprint

Photos: Søren Osgood, iStock and Polfoto