Research Funding Available to Improve Expertise in EU Industrial Relations

Grants to promote analysis and research on industrial relations to develop and reinforce those structures in Europe.

Action grants in the field of social dialogue under the Social Prerogatives and Specific Competencies Lines (SOCPL) are administered by the European Commission, Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion (DG EMPL).

The objective of this call is to promote analysis and research on industrial relations, at EU level as well as in comparative terms (identifying convergences and differences in the industrial relations systems in place in the EU Member States and in Candidate Countries), thereby contributing and promoting exchange of information and experience among the parties actively involved in industrial relations, with the aim of contributing to developing and reinforcing industrial relations structures in Europe.

The following categories of actions are targeted:

Analysis and research in the field of industrial relations, such as:

  • Activities to further deepen the analysis on topics/key findings that were examined by the European Commission, eg the chapters on social dialogue in Employment and Social Developments in Europe (ESDE) Reports
  • Research activities on industrial relations and social dialogue, such as studies, surveys and other forms of data collection, monitoring exercises, action research
  • Measures to enhance the collection and use of (comparative) information on industrial relations systems in EU Member States and Candidate Countries and on developments at European level
  • Initiatives to promote awareness of effective industrial relations practices, at both national and European level, including by bringing together relevant actors such as academia, social partners and policy makers
  • Exchange of information and experience among the parties actively involved in industrial relations, with the aim of contributing to developing and reinforcing industrial relations structures in Europe:
  • Measures to identify and exchange information in the area of industrial relations, including through the activities of networks between industrial relations parties and/or experts

Actions to disseminate above findings in publications, round tables, seminars, conferences, training measures and training tools:

  • Actions contributing to future industrial relations analysis by the Commission, notably in the context of the European Semester and the employment and social development in Europe (ESDE) Reports.

Applicants (beneficiaries, affiliated entities and associated partners) must be legal entities (public or private bodies) established in an EU Member State (including overseas countries and territories (OCTs)) or a candidate country (Albania, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Turkey).

The available call budget is €4.15 million. The Commission expects to fund between 10 and 25 proposals.

Applications must be submitted by 15 July 2021 (17:00 CEST).