T-AP · Trans-Atlantic Platform for the Social Sciences and Humanities

Major research funders in Europe and the Americas have decided to join forces to build a Trans-Atlantic Platform (TA-P) in order to create and establish effective and structured multi-lateral engagement between research funding agencies in Europe and the Americas. This Trans-Atlantic-Platform is a global first, representing a collaborative effort of key Humanities and Social Science funders on a scale not previously entertained. This Platform will break down the barriers to further co-operation between funders and also lead to heightening understanding of the contribution of Social Sciences and Humanities disciplines in a global context. As a first major step, the proposal includes key partners from Europe, Canada, Mexico and Brazil. Efforts will be made to engage additional partners from Europe and particularly the Americas.The Platform will support agencies in stepping up international collaboration: though sharing best practices, networking and closer coordination of existing activities and the establishment of new relationships to facilitate multidisciplinary networking across the Social Sciences and Humanities in their widest remit both with respect to research and geographical areas. A comparative analysis of the partners involved in the Platform and a mapping of existing research networks will be issued to identify barriers and challenges to transnational collaboration and to formulate successful mechanisms to work together efficiently beyond the bilateral approach. In order to become more than a ‘network of networks’ and to bring genuine added value the Platform will be focusing on key topics. As an initial focus, the Platform has agreed upon a plan to pilot new principles of transnational collaboration through concrete joint programming focusing on the theme of Digital Scholarship. A shortlist of other ‘thematic’ areas will be scoped in more detail and will serve as recommendations for topics and issues within Horizon 2020 or national funding strategies.