Description: The research should aim at launching a prospective analysis about the possible interactions between knowledge in its different forms, economic growth and social well-being and cohesion. It should address what could be the outlook of the knowledge society for the future, especially for Europe (in comparison with its major partners) and draw policy conclusions for research, education, innovation, consumer policies and other policies at national and EU level. It should analyse the nature, sources and consequences of the processes that generate and apply knowledge underlying innovation and technological change. It should address the economic and social value of knowledge taking into account relevant developments in economic theories. It should consider different incentive structures for knowledge creation, diffusion and use, the role of creativity in the economy, evolving consumer behaviours, and the role of education and training systems.

Deadline: 29th November 2007

Funding scheme: Collaborative research projects (large-scale integrating projects)

Description: The objective of this topic is to assess, measure and forecast the effects of intensified globalisation on the international competitiveness, growth performance and employment perspectives of Europe. Research will identify, evaluate and measure, when relevant, the determinants and patterns of changing international specialisation and the micro and macro economic effects of relocation of production and other activities, for firms, industry sectors, regions or countries.

Deadline: 29th November 2007

Funding scheme: Collaborative research projects (large-scale integrating projects)

Description: The objective of this topic is to contribute to the evaluation of macroeconomic policy and its interactions with other policies, and their impact on growth, employment and competitiveness especially in the context of European integration, through the development of the Single Market, enlargement and the Lisbon strategy. The objective includes the development or updating of the modelling tools needed for policy analysis. In the context of recent and future EU enlargements, research should address the issues related to macroeconomic policy, including the effects of the integration of monetary policy as well as the coordination of fiscal policies and public finances at the Community level on growth, employment and competitiveness.

Deadline: 29th November 2007

Funding scheme: Collaborative research projects (small or medium-scale focused projects)

Description: Research should compare the various socio-economic development trajectories in different European countries or groups of those countries, other developed countries and relevant developing or emerging countries. The degree of coherence within the individual models could also be addressed, as could the usefulness of typologies of models, and the differences between large and smaller countries. Specific challenges facing developing and emerging countries in combining the objectives could be included. The role of different socio-economic groups in the approach taken, including their influence on policy, is also of interest. Gender issues as well as the issue of culture should be also included.

Deadline: 29th November 2007

Funding scheme:

• Collaborative research projects (small or medium-scale focused projects);
• Coordination and Support Actions aiming at coordinating research activities and policies;
• Research for the Benefit of Specific Groups (open to civil society organisations to set up partnerships with research performers)

Description: The development of databases, accounting frameworks including harmonized input-output tables and related analytical tools, models and consistent expert systems (i.e. combination of different types of models according to the question to address) covering the European countries and the global level, based on common classifications that have been agreed at international level, would make possible international comparisons and structured assessments of policies. It would also enable the elaboration of a European and world projections and scenarios of the future relationship between the main socio-economic, environmental and societal issues.

Deadline: 29th November 2007

Funding scheme: Collaborative research projects (large-scale integrating projects)

Description: In relation to the EU policy objectives in the field of energy research will focus on the socio-economic cultural and political factors that shape energy demand and use in various environments (transport, agro-food, materials, housing, consumer behaviour, etc.) and on the necessary changes at systemic level that need to be initiated in order to develop an environmentally-friendly European model of energy policies that respond to the expectations and needs of European citizens, urban and rural communities.

Deadline: 29th November 2007

Funding scheme: Collaborative research projects (small or medium-scale focused projects)

Description: The aim is to provide an understanding of the key regional development challenges in the light of the major economic, social, political and cultural changes taking place in the world such as globalisation, European enlargement and integration, economic restructuring and relocation, and how they might be better anticipated and responded to. Regional development should be taken in a broad sense to cover economic, social and environmental aspects.

Deadline: 29th November 2007

Funding scheme:

• Collaborative research projects (small or medium-scale focused projects);
• Coordination and Support Actions aiming at coordinating research activities and policies

Description: The objective is to foster understanding of how development processes have and are being affected by relations between world regions and countries, and the ways in which this is changing, in historical and comparative perspective. Specific themes could include the influence of economic, political, technological and cultural relations on development and its nature, including their role in fostering or hampering paths towards sustainable development; whether and how uneven development is linked to such relations, both past and present; the extent to which historical relationships such as colonial and post-colonial relations affect today’s development paths; the role of urbanisation; factors enabling or hampering the building of economic, institutional and social capacity, of resilience to overcome poverty, including impacts of development aid approaches; the possibility for developing countries to define their own policies; gender and development relations.

Deadline: 29th November 2007

Funding scheme:

• Collaborative research projects (small or medium-scale focused projects);
• Coordination and Support Actions aiming at coordinating research activities and policies

Description: The objective is to develop non-Eurocentric analysis and awareness of the role of Europe in the world. Issues for research include how Europe at large, and the EU more specifically, are seen by people, elites, governments, media, literature and/or popular culture from outside Europe –selecting and, where possible, comparing specific regions (e.g. Middle East, African regions, South East Asia, South America) or major countries (e.g. China, India, Brazil, United States); the influence of cultural, economic, historical, linguistic, political, religious and/or technological ties and divides in shaping such views, and factors that lead to change etc.

Deadline: 29th November 2007

Funding scheme: Collaborative research projects (small or medium-scale focused projects)

Description: The aim is to strengthen the understanding of multilateralism, including the relations between external and internal dimensions of EU policies. Research issues include the notion and practice of multilateralism, its relations with other concepts (e.g. unilateralism, hegemony, multi-polarism) and with international law, and how this relates to the changing role of the EU and its member states in international affairs and institutions, including the relation between EU integration and other regional integration processes, etc.

Deadline: 29th November 2007

Funding scheme: Collaborative research projects (small or medium-scale focused projects)

Description: The objective is to achieve a comprehensive knowledge of why and how participation and democratic ownership develop or are hampered, with the focus on Europe. Research shall include the role of civil society, social partners, non-governmental organizations, political parties and other relevant organisations; factors causing non participation of citizens and new processes instruments and structures enabling better informed and effective participation; political integration and participation of citizens of the Union residing in a Member State of which they are not nationals; minorities and migrants; women and youth as social and political actors in the reconfiguration of democratic practices, etc.

Deadline: 29th November 2007

Funding scheme:

• Collaborative research projects (small or medium-scale focused projects);
• Research for the Benefit of Specific Groups, (open to civil society organisations to set up partnerships with research performers)

Description: The objective is to produce S&T foresight studies taking a long-term perspective and original approach. An improved policy-relevant insight into a broad range of issues pertaining to scientific disciplines, developments in other policy areas, etc. which could have far-reaching implications for European S&T in the long run, but which now are just emerging and not yet or just barely visible on the policy radar.

Deadline: 29th November 2007

Funding scheme: Collaborative research projects (small or medium-scale focused projects)