The ageing of populations is one of the main secular developments shaping the 21st century. Ageing will fundamentally affect individuals as well as the European welfare states. Globalisation and population ageing now exert large pressures on our welfare states, necessitating reform of pension and health care systems. This will impact European labour markets as well as the health and well-being of European citizens.

The aim of the proposed topic is to exploit the diversity in Europe to better understand the key relationships between demographics, welfare regimes, pension provision, public health, employment, income security, and wellbeing in a multidisciplinary and cross-national framework. With the proposed topic, we intend to stimulate scientific research that will add cutting-edge scientific knowledge on the core topics of the European social and economic policy debate.

The project devlopment and monitoring is in the hands of two committees (more details in the column to the right).

The research topics for this Forward Look are brought together in three broad themes (more information on the themes).  For each of the three themes, three sub-themes are defined, and for each of these Scientific Committe members have been invited to write, or organise the writing of, a paper summarising the current state of research, the research challenges for that sub-theme, and what is needed to fruitfully address these challenges in the next five to ten years. Preliminary versions of these papers will be discussed at three workshops – one per theme. The papers will be revised on the basis of the discussions at these workshops.

Each of the papers on the sub-themes will have the following structure:

1. Policy questions
2. Major progress in understandings
3. Remaining gaps in knowledge: main challenges
4. current state of play of European research infrastructures and networks
5. Required research infrastructures, methodological innovations, data, networks etc and consequences for research policy
6. What (and when) can we deliver on policy questions?
7. Length: between 7,500 and 10,000 words

Building on the theme papers, one paper will be written on the research policy implications for all of the themes. This paper covers data needs and other infrastructure requirements for carrying out the research plans. Another paper will be written that gives an overview of the research issues and their value for science and society.

All papers will be presented at a final one day conference of the Forward Look Exercise, where scientists as well as non-academic parties and policy makers will be invited. [more]

A final report will recapitulate findings and propose a research agenda. 

The Forward Look is expected to run from early 2008 to late 2009.