Long Abstract:

The EU Framework Programme Horizon 2020 focuses on grand societal challenges. The head of DG Research & Innovation states that these need ground breaking interdisciplinary research with ‘full embedding’ of the social sciences and humanities.

Dialogue between researchers and officials at a recent conference in Vilnius revealed both the opportunities and the difficulties of translating these ambitions into reality. The legacy of ‘science-push’ framing of research agendas remains very tangible. The transdisciplinary experience and capabilities of the science, technology & innovation studies community is underrepresented. There is a need to articulate a broader model of innovation with a participative, reflective approach to define a distinctively European path for research to address societal challenges.

This session offers opportunities for participants involved in the EU framework programmes. to proactively shape the emerging Horizon 2020 programme to enable it to fulfil its interdisciplinary social science & humanities aspirations.

The panel will include: Robin Williams, Director, Institute for the Study of Science, Technology and Innovation Studies, University of Edinburgh; Maja Horst, Head of Department of Media, Cognition and Communication, University of Copenhagen and Pierre Benoit Joly, Director of IFRIS (French Institute 'Research, Innovation, Society'), Directeur de Recherche at the French National Institute for Agronomic Research (INRA)