WIREDGOV

The world is changing fast, and global challenges require global solutions. Countries need to work together to tackle issues like climate change, equality, sustainability and prosperity, and providing for a skilled working population into healthy old age. As many of these challenges are fundamentally human in nature, social science and humanities-led research has a key part to play - policymakers need the best evidence, gathered from researchers around the world to help them make informed decisions.

This is the message behind EqUIP's 'Research with Impact' event, which will highlight the impact and value that can be achieved by Indian and European social scientists and humanities researchers working together. This event follows a parallel event which took place in Delhi  on the 8-9 March 2017. At the event, which will take place at the Science Europe headquarters in Brussels on the 24-25 April 2017, EqUIP will announce a new research call inviting scientists from European countries to collaborate with Indian partners to conduct research that addresses key global societal challenges.

The 'Sustainability, equity, wellbeing and cultural connections' call will build on the strong links and relationships that have been developed throughout the three year EqUIP project between European and Indian funding agencies. This will be the first initiative of its kind between Indian Funding Partners and a number of European countries.

With a total funding of 5.5 million Euros, it is expected that six projects will be funded in total, with a start date of 2019. Researchers from India, Finland, Norway, Poland, Slovenia, and the United Kingdom are invited to apply. Further European countries may also be announced shortly.  Research proposals should focus on societal challenges facing both India and the respective European countries, with suggested themes including, but not limited to, sustainability, equity, wellbeing and cultural connections.

The two day 'Research with Impact' event is being organised by the EU-India Social Sciences and Humanities Platform (EqUIP), a €1.5 million project, funded by the European Commission, which aims to foster and strengthen relationships between social sciences and humanities research funding agencies in Europe and India. EqUIP is the first ever international research collaboration network between India and Europe that has been specifically dedicated to social science and humanities.

The event brings together research funders, academia and policy makers to discuss the demand for, and potential impact of research collaboration between India and Europe to inform policy, practice and decision-making. Topics discussed will include the opportunities and possibilities presented by Europe-India social sciences and humanities collaborations, and how and why research in this area is relevant to policymakers and other users of research.

Speakers include:

• Professor Supriya Chaudhuri from Jadavpur University, India
• Dr. Ajay Bailey from the University of Groningen
• Professor V.K. Malhotra, who is member-secretary of the Indian Council of Social Science Research
• Dr Sanjay Kumar from the United Nations Population Fund India.

There will also be a broader panel discussion, chaired by Professor Tony McEnery who is the Research Director at ESRC, which in addition to the above speakers will include:

• Professor Kia Lindroos from University of Jyvaskyla
• Dr Shekar Shah who is the Director General at the National Council of Applied Economic Research
• Thomas Jacobsson who is Program Director at FORTE (Swedish Research Council for Health, Working Life and Welfare)
• Elisabeth Lipiatou who is the Head of Open and Inclusive Societies at DG Research and Innovation at the European Commission.

"India is an increasingly important research performing nation, with world renowned social science and humanities researchers, writers and artists," says Dr Jacqui Karn, Senior International Policy Manager at the ESRC. "The historical and cultural links between India and Europe mean that there is a great appetite for working together more, which is what this event is all about."

Further information about the call will be announced shortly.

Notes for editors

1. EqUIP is a €1.5 million project funded by the European Commission under its 7th Framework Programme for Research (FP7) and brings together research funding and research support organisations in Europe and India in order to develop a stronger strategic partnership in the fields of social sciences and humanities.
2. The partner countries for this project are:
   • Austria - Centre for Social Innovation (ZSI)
   • Czech Republic (Czech Academy of Sciences)
   • Finland - Academy of Finland (AKA)
   • France - The French National Research Agency (opens in new window) (ANR)
   • Germany -German Research Foundation (DFG), German Aerospace Centre (DLR)
   • India - Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR), Indian Council for Philosophical Research and the Indian Council for Historical Research
   • Italy - Agency for the Promotion of European Research (APRE)
   • Netherlands - Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO)
   • Norway - Research Council of Norway (RCN)
   • Portugal - The Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT)
   • Slovenia - Ministry of Education, Science and Sports (MIZS)
   • UK - Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), Arts and Humanities Research
   • Council (AHRC)
3. The Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) hosts the Coordinating Office of the EqUIP network of funders. It is the UK's largest funder of research on the social and economic questions facing us today. It supports the development and training of the UK’s future social scientists and also funds major studies that provide the infrastructure for research. ESRC-funded research informs policymakers and practitioners and helps make businesses, voluntary bodies and other organisations more effective. The ESRC also works collaboratively with six other UK research councils and Innovate UK to fund cross-disciplinary research and innovation addressing major societal challenges. The ESRC is an independent organisation, established by Royal Charter in 1965, and funded mainly by the Government.
4. The ESRC leads the EqUIP platform, in close collaboration with ICSSR and European partners.  The UK will continue to play this leadership role in this multi-lateral collaboration. This is unaffected by the UK leaving the European Union.The UK will be leaving the European Union and the formal process to negotiate the UK’s exit and future relationship will begin by the end of March 2017. The UK Government and Prime Minister have recognised the importance of the UK as one of the best places in the world for science and innovation and the importance of global engagement, partnership and collaboration. The continued success of UK research is dependent on our best researchers collaborating with partners and sharing facilities across international boundaries. The UK Research Councils will therefore continue to engage actively in EU funding programme and policy conversations.
5. Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR) is a council in India which promotes research in the field of social sciences. It was established in 1969 as an autonomous body under Government of India. The council supports a network of 29 research institutes, of which 24 are directly funded by ICSSR and five recognised by ICSSR.