Call for proposals: Citizens and governance in a knowledge-based society
Issued by: European Commission, DG Research
Deadline: 13/04/2005
EABIS' view: The first call for proposals from the same scheme resulted in the financial support for the RESPONSE and CSR Platform projects, currently underway. EABIS has analysed the documentation of the second call for proposal and has concluded it will not respond to the call. However, the second call for proposals might provide interesting opportunities for EABIS members depending on expertise and fields of interest.

A short overview is given below of the most relevant issues. Contact Bart Neerscholten for further questions regarding the FP6 second call for proposals.

Tuesday 8 March, virtual info session on open call:
On 8 March at 14:00-16:30 CET, the European Commission organises an Online Information Session about the open calls for proposals of the 'Citizens and Governance in a Knowledge Based Society' Priority in FP6. The Session is for the benefit of researchers in the social sciences and humanities and can be followed from this website: http://dgresearch.netlantic.net/#
Here you can watch and listen to presentations and see the slides of the presentation. At the same time you can e-mail to the EC any questions you may have about the calls. Oe is able to see on the screen all questions and answers. The transmission will be in English, but questions may also be sent in French or German.
The video produced during this session will be available until 13 April. If you cannot watch the presentation on 8 March from 14:00 you can see it and the questions/answers at any time up to 13 April.

Information on the second call in relation to Business in Society:
The European Commission has launched the second call for proposals within Priority 7 of FP6 - 'Citizens and governance in a knowledge-based society'.

EABIS has not detected interesting opportunities in the field of Business in Society for the FP6 instruments Networks of Excellence and Integrated Projects (FP6-2004-CITIZENS-4).

With regards to the instruments of STREPS (like RESPONSE) and Coordinated Actions (like CSR Platform) (FP6-2004-CITIZENS-5), the Work Programme Research Area 4.2.2 is closest linked with Business in Society. Work Programme, Research Area 4 is called “The implications of European integration and enlargement for governance and the citizen”. Subheading 4.2.2 is entitled: “Governance for sustainable development” (page 12 of work programme).

Focus of 4.2.2 is on sustainable development (environmental) and governance and their interactions.
Text of 4.2.2: "The EU is committed both to improve its governance and to foster sustainable development. While ‘good governance’ and ‘sustainable development’ are broad concepts with broad political and public support they also involve possible tensions and conflicts. The objective is to explore the interactions between governance modes and sustainable development objectives in view of identifying what governance processes and institutions can best foster sustainable development within a European knowledge based society. STREPs and/or CAs should examine the relations between local, national, European (including implications of EU enlargement), and global governance in the management of environmental resources and in implementing sustainability; environmental security and options to deal with vulnerability of social groups and economic sectors to global environmental change. Research could also analyse how current policy ‘sectoralisation’ provides obstacles to, or can accommodate, an integrated approach to sustainable development (that is the pursuit of environmental, economic and social sustainability); the relations between different cycles –e.g. political, administrative and investment cycles- of short/medium term and the long-term perspective required by sustainable development approaches. Sustainable development also raises specific research issues in relation to democracy and the knowledge based society, e.g. citizens participation in setting sustainable development objectives and related policies, the role of knowledge in fostering sustainable development, corporate social responsibility, the tackling of distributive aspects across generations and social groups as well as between wealthy and poor countries (e.g. governance implications of concepts of inter- and intra-generational justice, and international fairness)".

EABIS applied for funding for the first call for proposals within Research area 5 (Articulation of areas of responsibility and new forms of governance). In the second call for proposals this research area does not offer interesting opportunities.

Full information package, the work programme, rules and preparation tools are available on: Cordis website

Interested parties for collaboration e-ISOTIS has experience in e-Inclusion, e-Accessibility, e-government, e-Learning access to knowledge and generally in the needs of people with disabilities and equal opportunities. In this context, and in case you plan to submit a proposal at any research area of ‘Citizens and governance in a knowledge based society’ with deadline 13th April 2005, e-ISOTIS is interested to support your project.
One could consider e-ISOTIS as potential partner or subcontractor in your initiative that will (any or all of the following):

• anayse the user requirements of the actual end-users
• support the running of the pilots and evaluation of project results,
• assume full responsibility for reviewing the project on ethics and gender issues,
• support you at transeuropean level on the dissemination,
• support you on training and demonstration tasks.