Research Collaboration in the Social and Human Sciences between Europe,
Russia, the CIS countries and China (Global SSH)

Global SSH is an Action that aims at promoting transnational research co-operation between the Europe, Russia, the CIS countries, and China in the social sciences and humanities. The action intends to identify prerequisites for transnational research networks as well as common agendas for transnational research in the future structuring of the enlarged European Research Area (ERA). Framed by current processes of socio-political transition and internationalisation, the Action addresses the transformations of SSH research and its new role in the three regions.

Global SSH Action focuses its activities on four major areas:

1. Mapping and assessing SSH capabilities in the 11 Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries, i.e. Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan and Tadjikistan, and China. With regard to the CIS, four countries will be targeted: Russia, Ukraine, Georgia, and Uzbekistan. It is of particular importance to learn more about the institutional landscape (including institutional innovation and change) and the research policies that structure advances in SSH research in the region.

2. Investigating experiences and capacities in transnational SSH research in the EU, the targeted CIS-countries, and China.

3. Placing the above mentioned areas in historical context by synthesising what we know about the rise and transformation of the social and human sciences, in Europe and beyond, as these were related to the emergence of modern states and universities.

4. Identifying common agendas for future transnational research and formulating policy recommendations for setting up research priorities in the SSH and the designing of future research programmes within the context of the enlarged ERA, supporting the mobilisation of scientific co-operation between the EU-CIS and the EU-China research communities.

The Action is implemented through conferences, workshops, and expert group discussions.

While this Action is implemented within FP6, it also prepares future initiatives within FP7. Moreover, the Action provides an opportunity to reflect on — and possibly re-think — key concepts in European research policy in the light of the internationalisation of the social and human sciences.

Please see below the Action short Power Point presentation