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Mapping Weak Signals

Inspired by: workshops/meetings » Speculation on cutting funding for social sciences research

version: 1 / created: 2011-01-07
id: #1341 / version id: #1341
mode: VIEW

Originally submitted by: Rafael Popper
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Last changed by: Rafael Popper
WI-WE status:
submitted unpublished archived

Source of inspiration

Workshops/Meetings

iKnow workshop country name

United Kingdom

Workshop date

February 2010

The source of the Weak Signal is

Expert group on wild cards and weak signals related to social sciences and humanities (SSH)

Signal's headline

(max. 9 words)
Speculation on cutting funding for social sciences research

Signal's description

(approx. 150 words)
Please describe the Weak Signal (approx. 150 words)
There have been growing speculation about cutting funding for social sciences and humanities (SSH) research and possibly dropping it as a thematic area in the next European Commission Framework Programme for Research and Technology Development (FP8).

Keywords

social sciences, humanities, SSH, FP8, funding, research

Mini-description

(max. 250 characters)
Commentators involved in discussions about the next European Commission Framework Programme for Research and Technology Development (FP8) believe that social sciences and humanities (SSH) may no longer be a thematic area with a specific budget.

Signal's first apperance

2005-now

Signal's potential evolution

It could lead to...
issue type of issue/development potential impact on society timeframe for the issue to become at least 50% probable
#1 End of research on particular areas of social sciences which may be seen as "less important" for Europe (e.g. behavioural and cognitive sciences). discontinuation
 		mainly harmful
 		now-2015

Under what assumption the Weak Signal might evolve.

Social sciences is no longer a specific theme in the next EC Framework Programme fro RTD. It may become a "cross-cutting" theme but without budget for thematic calls. Thus, social sciences research becomes more of a service to other sciences (passive analysis of implications of research in other areas/technologies on society).

Importance

please specify
please select
Level 3: important for the European Union

Filters preventing the signal's monitoring

institutional filters (rules, laws, regulations)
political filters (party or ideological interests)

Comments on selection:

Internal EC discussions about FP8 may prevent many people from monitoring this signal.

Key driving forces of this signal

Please use these boxes to provide up to 2 drivers of HIGH importance. Click on HELP to see examples:
Driver 1 Driver 2
Economic Growing pressures to translate research into economic value.

Major risks & opportunities associated to the signal

Please choose the most appropriate timeframe option(s) to which you would like to provide inputs.
Risks Opportunities
before 2015 Sudden drop in the number of undergraduate and postgraduate students applying for social sciences and humanities related studies.

Potential stakeholders' actions

short-term actions
(now-2015) 		longer-term
(after 2015)
Academic/Research sector Evaluate the implications of lack of pan-European instruments supporting research on social sciences issues.

Signal's relevance for European Grand Challenges

where? please justify:
particularly relevant Europe world
Ageing and other demographic tensions
Behavioural change
Coexistence and conflicts
Crime and terrorism
Social pathologies & ethics
Social exclusion & poverty
Social cohesion and diversity
Globalization vs. localization
Innovation dynamics

Signal's relevance for thematic research areas

please justify:
particularly relevant
Social Sciences and Humanities
Science in society

Pan-European strategies influencing the signal

please justify:
particularly relevant
Strengthening research institutions and universities
Facilitating and promoting knowledge sharing and transfer

Research-friendly strategies potentially improving understanding of the signal

For further information about 'research-friendly strategies' click here
please justify:
particularly relevant
Overcoming sub-criticality and systemic failures
To be subcritical means that the effort in a particular field or subfield lacks resources, equipment or a sufficient number of researchers to achieve a desired goal
Creating a closer link between researchers & policy-makers
(e.g. supporting both thematic and cross-cutting policies, highlighting the strategic purpose of the European Research Area, etc.

Signal's relevance for future R&D and STI policies

Note: RTD = research and technology development; STI = science, technology and innovation
This signal suggest that further research my be done on the role and contributions of social sciences and humanities (SSH) research to the European STI landscape.