PLATONPLUS · Strengthening the role that Socio-economic Sciences and Humanities (SSH) have on the ERA development

PLATON+ aims to catalyze dissemination of the European research in Socio-economic Sciences and Humanities (SSH) as well as to capitalize SSH research results and assets across non-SSH research areas / themes. The proposed project will operate as a central hub for the dissemination of SSH research so as to (a) facilitate integration and coordination of SSH (-related) research under FP7 and to (b) exploit horizontally the competences of European SSH researchers for the benefit of European research. Under this context, the project will systematically deploy a set of diversified dissemination & valorisation actions that will enhance the integration of the SSH research community in non-SSH themes and are expected to have a long lasting effect, well beyond the project’s lifetime. PLATON+ activities target 4 -priority groups: Research community, Policy / decision makers (European, national, regional), Business community and CSOs. PLATON+ differentiates from existing similar / complementary projects by setting its center of gravity in: (i) The wide use of a variety of the latest information and communication applications which are integrated in its web-portal. The latter is expected to operate as a ‘Virtual Knowledge Hub’ for SSH research stakeholders. (ii) The systematic collaboration with complementary and similar projects. (iii) Stimulating collaboration with FP6-CITIZENS & FP7-SSH research projects and highly experienced and networked SSH organizations. Overall, more than 1.300 people will participate in PLATON+ events, 15.000 users are expected to visit the project web-portal. The project mobilises a multidisciplinary and multicultural consortium of 12 partners from 10 countries, which will take particular care to optimize the use of the project resources within the 30 months of the project duration and to maximize its impact.