Meet your NCP: Christa Van Zyl Human Sciences Research Council E-mail: sis.ncp@esastap.org.za Tel: 27 12 302 2014

Assistant NCP: Billie-Jean Winnaar Human Sciences Research Council E-mail: sis.ncp@esastap.org.za Tel: 27 12 302 2519

Challenge Social Innovation 19 – 21 September 2011, Vienna, Austria What does Social Innovation mean today? How can research sustain Social Innovation? What can the Socio-Economic Sciences and Humanities (SSH) contribute? These are some of the topics which will be discussed during the International Scientific Conference "Challenge Social Innovation – Innovating innovation by research – 100 years after Schumpeter" including a NET4SOCIETY Networking event pertaining to the SSH Call for Proposals 2012. The event conference will take place from 19th to 21st September in Vienna. A series of sessions will take place over three days, moving from policy discussion and debate to FP7 networking and engagement.

Opportunities for SSH Researchers Download an analysis of SSH-relevant topics in areas other than Theme 8 Socio-Economic Sciences and Humanities for FP7 Work Programmes 2012 and other ERA initiatives.

In the programme focusing on Socio-Economic Sciences and the Humanities (SSH), emphasis is given to the following eight areas:

1. Growth, employment and competitiveness in a knowledge society:
   (innovation, competitiveness and labour market policies; education and life-long learning; economic structures and productivity)

2. Combining economic, social and environmental objectives in a European perspective:
   (models within Europe and across the world; economic and social and cohesion across regions; social and economic dimensions of environmental policy)

3. Major trends in society and their implications:
   (demographic change, reconciling family and work, health and quality of life, youth policies, social exclusion and discrimination)

4. Europe in the world:
   (trade, migration, poverty, crime, conflict and resolution)

5. The citizen in the European Union:
   (political participation, citizenship and rights, democracy and accountability, the media, cultural diversity and heritage, religions, attitudes and values)

6. Socio-economic and scientific indicators:
   (the use and value of indicators in policymaking at macro and micro levels)

7. Foresight activities:
   (the future implications of global knowledge, migration, ageing, risk and the emerging domains in research and science)

8. Strategic activities:
   (including research for policy support and international cooperation)

Important topics for research, which are expected to feature in future calls for proposals are described in an overall integrated "Indicative Strategic Research Roadmap" covering the period 2011-2013. View the roadmap

To learn more about the SSH work programme and opportunities for networking and research offered under the programme, see

• European Commission - Research - Socio-economic Sciences and Humanities
• CORDIS : FP7 : Socio-economic Sciences and Humanities
• NET4SOCIETY