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G-FORSGovernance for Sustainability

Final Policy Conference,Brussels, 12 May 2009

European Commission

Research DG

Unit L2

«Socio-economic Sciences and Humanities »

Tihamer Laczko

Project Officer, Call Coordinator

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Citizens and Governance

in a knowledge-based society(Priority 7 under FP6)

• Scoreboard of the sustainable development projects in the domain of « Research on Governance and Citizenship »under FP 6 (CITIZENS 1-5)– 7 Integrated projects– 4 Network of Excellence – 11 Specific Targeted Research projects (STREP)– 2 Coordination Actions (CA)– In total, 24 projects equivalent to EUR 58.24 Million. (total SSH budget under FP6: EUR 266 Million, 169 project contracts)

– 446 research teams were involved throughout FP6 Calls entitled« Citizens and Governance in knowledge-based society ».

– Thus sustainable development projects of this kind represent a proportion of 22% in budget terms and 14.2% of contract numbers under FP6.

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G-FORS« Governance for sustainability »

Last FP6-Call: CITIZENS 5-2004-4.2.2 « Governance for sustainable development »

- 26 Proposal were received under the topic of CITIZENS 5 2004-4.2.2 « Governance for sustainable development »

- 7 passed the evaluation threshold (success rate: 26,4%)

- 3 “pure” SSH projects addressing theoretical dimension of sustainable development (besides conventional themes such as energy, transport) were launched as a result of the last FP6 Call named “CITIZENS 5”.

- The total budget of the three projects accounts for 3.53 Million (6 % of all specific sustainable project fund ing under FP6)

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Context of the birth of G-FORS project

• 1. G-FORS� “Governance for Sustainability”. Core data of the G-FORS project:– EC contribution: EUR 1.49 Million– Instrument: STREP– Start date: 01.02.2006, project duration: 36 months extended to 31.05.2009

– Project Coordinator (PC): Dr. Reinhard Martinsen (Metropolitan Region of Hannover), in total 12 partners.

• 2. EPIGOV� “Environmental policy Integration and multilevel governance” focused on various EPI approaches (Environmental Policy Integration)– (EUR 0.84 Million, Coordinated Action, 36 months, PC: ECOLOGIC, Institute for International and European Environmental Policy, 19 partners)

• 3. GEM - CON BIO � “Governance and Ecosystems Management for the Conservation of Biodiversity”– (EUR appr. 1.2 Million, STREP, 24 months, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki)

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Objectives of the G-FORS project I.

• G-FORS aims to develop an innovative analytical modelfor the governance for sustainablity, focusing on the potential exploitable synergies between new governance modes and difference forms of kowledge.

• The project bears multidisciplinary approach, hence several disciplines are deployed in the project, such as sociology, political science and environmentally sustainable policy.

• The project sets up a conceptual framework which is supposed to be tested empirically through 18 case studies in 9 countries.

• The 18 case studies bring three empirical fields under in-depth examination– Air quality

– Emission Trading policy

– Strategic Environmental Assessment

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Structure of the G-FORS project I.(23 Deliverables)

Workpackage No

Workpackage title Workpage leader

WP1 Project Management Metropolitan Region Hannover

WP2 Conceptual Framework Darmstadt University of Technology, Institute for Regional Development and Structural Planning Berlin

WP3 Methodological Tools Darmstadt University of Technology, Institute for Regional Development and Structural Planning Berlin, University of the West of England

WP4 Country case study: United Kingdom

University of the West of England

WP5 Country case study: Germany Darmstadt University of Technology

WP6 Country case study: Poland University Warsaw

WP7 Country case study: The Netherlands

University of Twente

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Structure of the G-FORS project II.(23 Deliverables)

WP8 Country case study: Italy Politecnico Di Milano

WP9 Country case study: Sweden University of Göteborg

WP10 Country case study: Norway Norsk Institutt For By – OG Region Forsking

WP11 Country case study: Greece Institute of Urban Environment & Human Resources Athens

WP12 Country case study: Hungary Centre for Regional Studies of Hungarian Academy of Sciences

WP13 Comparative Conclusions Darmstadt University of Technology, Institute for Regional Development and Structural Planning Berlin, University of the West of England, University of Twente,

WP14 Dissemination and Facilitation of Cross-National Policy Transfer

Metropolitan Region Hannover. Eurocities, University of Twente, Politecnico Di Milano, University of the West of England, Institute of Urban Environment & Human Resources Athens

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Description of the project structure I.

• First year of the project mainly addressed the elaboration of a new concept, producing a knowledge platform, resulting in conceptual framework paper and a methodological framework paper (main deliverables of the 1st reporting period)

• Second year of the project focused mainly on the empirical research (WP4 to 12) in order to test - via the 18 practical cases carried out in 9 countries – the working hypothesis about relationships, and implementation of institutional knowledge at national and local level.

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Description of the project structure II.

• Description of work:

– Collecting and comparatively analysing the 18 case studies

– Identifying a typology of relationships between governance modes and knowledge forms

– Drawing conclusions on the contribution of various governance/knowledge relationship mix to the development of reflexive knowledge and ultimately to sustainable development

– Valorising benchmark results: comparing the relative performance of different governance- and knowledge combinations with respect to the two specific fields.

– Setting up measurable indicators to assess to which extent certain combinations of governance modes and knowledge forms are proven to be successful in meeting the sustainable development goals at EU, national as well as local level.

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Governance Modes and knowledge forms in the G-FORS project

The three empirical fields look at different governance modes in a multi-level context

• hierarchy,

• non-hierarchical networks of autonomous but interdependent public and private sectors (bargaining)

• non-hierarchical networks relying on arguing for influencing societal binding decision making

• « hidden hand » of the market

Following issues around knowledge should be investigated:

• Main issue lies with identification of certain form of reflexivity(reflective knowledge) within different governance arrangement.

• Exploring the combination of wide range of knowledge forms between the different governance modes is the real contribution of G-FORS project to have a much deeper understanding of the challenges faced in the domain of sustainable development across EU.

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EU Research funds under FP7Cooperation/Theme 8: EUR 623 Million

(2007-2013)

EU Framework Programmes budget (bln €)

13,10 13,70

20,00

50,50

2,62 3,43 5,00 7,21

0,00

10,00

20,00

30,00

40,00

50,00

60,00

FP4 (1994-1998) FP5 (1999-2002) FP6 (2003-2006) FP7 (2007-2013)

Total budget Annual budget

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SSH Activities in FP7

1. Growth, employment and competitiveness in a knowledge society

2. Path towards sustainable development

3. Major trends in society and their implications

4. Europe and the world

5. The citizen in the European Union

6. Socio-economic and scientific indicators

7. Foresight

8. Horizontal activities

+1. ERA-NET

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Sustainable developmentunder the first SSH Call – 2 domains addressing SD

• The aspects of sustainable development in FP7– Cohesion policy and structural funds (half of the EU budget)– Energy and climate change measures– Common Agricultural Policy (CAP)

• In the domain of „Sustainable development and territorial dynamics” 15 research projects were established during the first SSH Call in 2007-2008, equivalent to EUR 20,7 Million with participation of 108 research teams.

• Sustainability aspects under sustainable development and territorial dynamics: interactions among SD components, focus onrural areas, regional innovation in shrinking urban regions, comparison of various societal models (institutional changes, knowledge transmission, economic uncertainty), inequalities, entrepreneurship and employment.

• In the domain of „Citizens and Governance in a Knowledge-based Society” 7 projects were signed in total equivalent to EUR 10,15 Million with the involvement of 60 research teams.

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Sustainable Development in the ongoing SSH Call I.

• FP7-SSH-2009 A-B-C: Activity 2• Combining economic, social and environmental objectives in a European perspective – Path towards sustainable development

• Indicative budget of Activity 2 under Call A is EUR 8.25 Million, funding scheme: collaborative project

• Indicative budget of Activity 2 under Call B is EUR 3 Million, funding scheme: collaborative project – SICA

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Sustainable Development in the ongoing SSH Call II.

• Call A (Collaborative projects, Max EC contribution: EUR 2.7 Million, Budget line: EUR 8.25 Million)– Topic: SSH-2009-2.1.1New socio-economic concepts, paradigm shift andterritorial dynamics in a long term perspective– Topic: SSH-2009-2.1.3Impacts of corporate social responsibility– Topic: SSH-2009-2.2.1Social inequalities, their implications and policy options

• Call B (Collaborative projects-SICA, Max EC contribution: EUR 3 Million. Budget line: EUR 3 Million)– Topic: SSH-2009-2.1.2Cities and sustainable development

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Conceptual Framework of the SSH Roadmap (2010-2013) I.

• From 2010 onwards, research under the SSH programme will be integrated along an overall strategic roadmap covering the period 2010-2013.

• Within each Activity, the roadmap will identify one « societal challenge » that has to be tackled in a medium to long-term perspective.

• In order to address any particular societal challenge, the annual SSH Work Programmes will propose you set of research actions (a Building Block) to be carried out in the medium–term.

• New conceptual framework: Activity (1-5) >> identifiedSocietal challenge per Activity >> recommended set of research actions plus other actions (foresight, coordination, management, dissemination)=Building Bloc per societal challenge (one single contract with a duration of from 4 to 5 years).

• Each Building Block will be translated into one single contract of EUR 7 Mln awarded to the top-scored large consortium (high degree of professionalization is indispensable in running such large-scale projects, central pool of full-time staff is of paramount importance)

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Conceptual Framework of the SSH Roadmap (2010-2013) II.

• The following funding schemes are considered along WPs ahead:– Large-scale integrating collaborative research projects – Small or medium-scale focused collaborative research projects– Collaborative SICA-projects– Coordination and Support Actions

• Novelty in research orientation: – bottom-up approach is allowed, in the sense of which consortium can indicate research actions that are the most pertinent to addressing the challenge at stake.

– The clear advantage of the building bloc over the small- and medium scale projects is that it enables a more efficient coordination and exchange of information over the distinct FP projects

• Required components of the research method as well as Work Packages are as follows: stock-taking exercise, foresight and dissemination.

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Conceptual Framework of the SSH Roadmap (2010-2013) III.

• In general, 5 Activities (1-5) are open for researching in the WPs ahead

• The Societal Challenge will be complemented by 2 or 3« conventional research topics » under each activity, focusing on researching either addressing urgent eventual needs or complementing the main Building Blocks

• The classical research topics at issue will be funded by Collaborative projects (small- or medium-scale focused research projects) with a maximum requested EC contribution of EUR 2.7 Mln.

• Planned budget of WPs in the SSH Roadmap– WP 2010: EUR 74.44 Mln– WP 2011: EUR 84.1 Mln– WP 2012: EUR 93.2 Mln– WP 2013: EUR 110.8 Mln

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Aspects of Sustainable Development in the SSH Roadmap (2010-2013)

• Societal challenges to be tackled under Activity 2 (Combining economic, social and environmental objectives in a European perpective – Paths towards sustainable development)

1. Addressing the energy challenge: Behavioural and Systemic aspects

2. Behavioural and territorial pathways towards sustainability

3. The new challenges of the EU cohesion policy –including neighbourhood (WP 2010)

4. The sustainable development of European countryside

5. Tackling social inequalities in Europe

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Aspects of Sustainable Development in the WP 2010.

• Current topic suggestions under Activity 2 in WP 2010 :1. Evaluation of the impacts of global changes

– Regional climate change impacts, natural resources scarcity, energy affordability, water availability, land use, transport routes, macroeconomic costs and benefits of achieving low carbon society

2. Local welfare systems favouring social cohesion in the city (follow up from the social platform on cities and social cohesion)– Identify the most favourable schemes for social cohesion

whilst considering their effects on social inequalities, what could be the most favourable to social cohesion and sustainability, urban policy recommendations

3. Social platform on sustainable lifestyles– Reduction in the level of consumption of energy and

environmental resources as well as transport services, whilst improving the quality of life for all (sustainable lifestyle concept)

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Thank you very much for your attention!

Contact address:

tihamer.laczko@ec.europa.eu