Horizons for Social Sciences and Humanities

Transcription

1 Lithuanian Presidency of the Council of the European Union 2013 Conference SSH Horizons for Social Sciences and Humanities September 23-24, 2013 Mykolas Romeris University Vilnius, Lithuania

2 Włodzimierz Bolecki, Fundacja na rzecz Nauki Polskiej SSH Structural Funding in Poland Past Practices and New Proposals

3 Poland: Structural funds for science

4 Poland: Structural funds for science ~

5 Poland: Structural funds for science Poland spent more than 4 billion euros on science. Money was transferred to science through seven large operational programmes. Result: huge changes in terms of modernizing and building research infrastructure (new campuses, laboratories, teams).

6 Poland: Structural funds for science The most important source of funding for scientific research was the Innovative Economy Operational Programme approx. 2.6 billion euros. The Polish government limited spending in this programme using a filter that restricted disciplines to those described as info bio tech.

7 Poland: Structural funds for science info bio tech filter The result: social sciences and the humanities as well as mathematics and theoretical physics could not be financed using structural funds.

8 Foundation for Polish Science

9 Foundation for Polish Science ~

10 Foundation for Polish Science In FNP received approx. 105 million euros for scientific research. FNP finances 7 programmes from structural funds

11 Foundation for Polish Science WELCOME for experienced researchers returning from abroad IPhDP International PhD Projects (for PhD students) TEAM for experienced researchers setting up research teams VENTURES for projects with commercial potential HOMING for postdocs returning from abroad POMOST (Parent-Bridge) for a return to research after taking care of children SKILLS training courses

12 Foundation for Polish Science It was possible to assign minimal amounts from structural funds to social sciences and the humanities only in the MPD, VENTURES, and SKILLS programmes. The tasks that could not be financed from structural funds due to the binding info bio tech filter, were financed by FNP with it s own funds.

13 Poland: Structural funds for science

14 Poland: Structural funds for science ~

15 Poland: Structural funds for science Poland will receive approx billion euros and the money will be transferred under 7 large operational programmes.

16 Poland: Structural funds for science developing infrastructure of national importance supporting the commercialization of research supporting smart specialisations (i.e. selected areas of science with the greatest potential) supporting interdisciplinary and international scientific research and development as well as R&D staff supporting centers of competence promoting social innovation supporting the integration of Polish science with the European Research Area (ERA)

17 Poland: Structural funds for science Informal filter threat Government documents suggest that an informal filter will be used when assigning funding. That filter will be innovativeness of companies and applied research of significant commercial potential. Typically, the notions of industry and innovation are understood in a more traditional way, i.e. as the production of material goods, and do not take into account THE CREATIVE INDUSTRY that also includes SSH and especially their application in culture.

18 Foundation for Polish Science

19 Foundation for Polish Science Programmes open to all fields of knowledge HOMING for researchers who want to come to work in Poland PROOF OF CONCEPT research ideas with significant commercial potential First TEAM, New TEAM, Tech TEAM three programmes for different types of research teams INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH AGENCIES all fields, but chiefly applied sciences, research and development work, development of research staff, transfer of research to companies, an international supervisory board, interdisciplinary research. VIRTUAL INSTITUTES teams in different cities and centers can form consortia through networking.

20 Wlodzimierz Bolecki Przemysław Urbańczyk NEW PROPOSAL European Laboratories of Social Sciences and Humanities

21 New proposal E SSH LABs

22 New proposal: E SSH LABs Project thesis European laboratories of social sciences and humanities (E-SSH LABs) is a project to create a new, European research network in the field of SSH, embracing all countries and regions that benefit from structural funds. E-SSH LABs means both European (international) and Electronic.

23 New proposal: E SSH LABs

24 New proposal: E SSH LABs Project objectives To improve the quality of SSH research in these countries and regions to a comparable level. To create new forms of coherence in the SSH research conducted in the EU in order to strengthen the European Research Area. To introduce a new, interdisciplinary model for conducting research in SSH to change the existing paradigm of research in SSH. To construct a joint platform in the field of SSH capable of reacting fast to challenges in research and society common to the countries.

25 New proposal: E SSH LABs Organisation E-SSH LABs E-SSH LABs means an identical organisational model for conducting SSH research in each country which joins the E- SSH LABs network. E-SSH LABs will be based on the following principles: Complete internationalisation of research teams in E-SSH LABs; a smooth transfer of personnel and research in E- SSH LABs in any country; international SSH PhD studies based on obligatory study in at least three foreign institutions that are part of the E-SSH LABs network. Full interdisciplinarity. international competition organised by the ERC, Max- Planck Society, CNRS, SE and other European institutions sponsoring research (competition rules to be determined by said institutions). Means of selection of E-SSH LABs: bottom up

26 New proposal: E SSH LABs Anticipated results Formation of a creative and competitive international SSH environment. Participation in activities such as: teaming (the best teams), twinning (innovative interdisciplinary research) and ERA Chair; as well as other Horizon 2020 programmes. Creation of new specialisations for the European labour market in the field of SSH (universities, media, culture area of civic creativeness). Strengthening the domestic and European creative industry.

27 New proposal: E SSH LABs Funding of E-SSH LABs By 2020, E-SSH LABs would be financed from the structural funds available to individual SSH Lab (funding mechanism to be determined). After 2020, the E-SSH LABs in the individual countries should have a sufficient research potential to gain grants in European and domestic competitions.

28 New proposal: E SSH LABs Funding of E-SSH LABs Using national structural funds for joining the E- SSH LABs network requires the recommendation of the major European research institutions (ERC, Max-Planck Soc., CNRS, SE etc.) and the European Commission. Of course, (1) without this recommendation, no country shall create E- SSH LABs on its own, and (2) the project will make sense if E-SSH LABs are founded in various countries (regions) at the same time, as links of the new network.

29 New proposal: E SSH LABs Research model In E-SSH LABS there would be no such division into such traditional disciplines of the humanities as philology, history, history of art, philosophy, archaeology, cultural studies, law, journalism, etc. The research subjects are set across traditional disciplines. The same would apply to social sciences.

30 New proposal: E SSH LABs Subject areas In the current phase of this project, we can identify the following: Language and text Images and visualisations Things and materials Sounds and actions Values and norms Societal structures Ideas, institutions New challenges in society

31 New proposal: E SSH LABs In this division into research subjects there are no disciplines, fields or areas these are cognitive research subjects based on objects and phenomena in which all disciplines of humanities and social sciences are interested. The subjects of interdisciplinary research should be defined in the competition for appointment of E-SSH LABs.

32 New proposal: E SSH LABs Consequences of the research model Each of the research subjects is a subject of interest of both SSH disciplines and those of the hard sciences. The E-SSH LABs model permits the formation of teams consisting of specialists from all disciplines and fields interested in a specific subject (SSH + hard sciences), as well as ensuring close cooperation on specific projects within E-SSH LABs.

33 Włodzimierz Bolecki Przemysław Urbańczyk

34 That s it. Thank you:-)