International Call: Preparing for Tomorrow – Societies and Strategies in Times of Transition (Finland)

Deadline: 08-Jul-2026

The Trans-Atlantic Platform for the Social Sciences and Humanities (T-AP) has launched the Preparing for Tomorrow – Societies and Strategies in Times of Transition funding call to support international research collaborations across Europe, Africa, and the Americas. The programme funds interdisciplinary social sciences and humanities research that explores uncertainty, future crises, resilience, and societal transitions while promoting international cooperation and evidence-based policy development.

About the T-AP Preparing for Tomorrow Research Call

The Trans-Atlantic Platform for the Social Sciences and Humanities (T-AP) is an international research collaboration that supports joint research projects addressing global societal challenges through the social sciences and humanities.

The Preparing for Tomorrow – Societies and Strategies in Times of Transition call encourages transnational research teams to investigate how societies understand, prepare for, and respond to uncertainty and future crises. The programme promotes collaboration among researchers from participating countries across Europe, Africa, and the Americas, with the goal of producing research that informs public policy and strengthens societal resilience.

Funding Overview

The programme provides funding for collaborative international research projects involving multiple participating countries.

Key funding information includes:

• The Research Council of Finland has allocated €1,000,000 to support eligible Finnish research teams participating in successful international projects.
• Funding for researchers from other participating countries is provided by their respective national funding organisations in accordance with their own eligibility rules.

Programme Objectives

The T-AP call aims to:

• Support international interdisciplinary research.
• Improve understanding of uncertainty and future societal challenges.
• Strengthen preparedness for future crises.
• Promote evidence-based policymaking.
• Encourage collaboration between researchers across continents.
• Foster inclusive and forward-looking research.
• Develop strategies that improve resilience and governance.

Research Theme: Preparing for Tomorrow – Societies and Strategies in Times of Transition

The programme focuses on understanding how societies prepare for uncertain futures and respond to complex transitions affecting communities around the world.

Research is expected to generate:

• Conceptual insights.
• Empirical evidence.
• Normative perspectives.
• Practical policy recommendations.

Projects should contribute to improving preparedness, resilience, and long-term societal sustainability.

Key Research Focus Areas

Understanding Uncertainty

Research may explore:

• Sources of uncertainty.
• Economic and social costs of uncertainty.
• Communication of uncertainty.
• Improving responses to uncertainty.

Future and Crisis Perspectives

Projects may examine:

• Historical perspectives on crises.
• Cultural understandings of the future.
• Regional approaches to crisis management.
• Different forms of societal transition.

Response Strategies

Research may address:

• Crisis response coordination.
• Governance strategies.
• Institutional preparedness.
• Community resilience.
• Policy development.

Prevention and Preparedness

Applicants are encouraged to investigate:

• Crisis prevention.
• Preparedness planning.
• Risk management.
• Ethical and normative approaches to future challenges.

What Types of Research Are Supported?

The programme supports interdisciplinary projects that:

• Address major societal challenges.
• Combine expertise from multiple disciplines.
• Produce policy-relevant knowledge.
• Improve understanding of future risks.
• Strengthen public decision-making.
• Inform governance at local, national, and international levels.

Projects should contribute to both academic knowledge and practical societal impact.

Who Is Eligible?

Applications must be submitted by international research consortia.

Each proposal must include:

• At least three eligible Co-Principal Investigators (Co-PIs).
• Researchers from at least three different participating countries.
• Representation from both sides of the Atlantic.

Each participating researcher must also satisfy the eligibility requirements of their respective national funding agency.

Consortium Requirements

Eligible research teams should:

• Be international in composition.
• Include researchers from multiple participating countries.
• Demonstrate interdisciplinary expertise.
• Address the programme’s research theme.
• Promote collaborative research across continents.

International cooperation is a mandatory component of the programme.

Support for Early Career Researchers

The programme actively encourages participation by early career researchers.

Projects are encouraged to:

• Provide mentoring opportunities.
• Build research capacity.
• Develop future research leaders.
• Encourage international collaboration for emerging scholars.

Stakeholder Engagement

Applicants are encouraged to engage with:

• Policymakers.
• Government agencies.
• Communities.
• Civil society organisations.
• Public institutions.
• Other relevant stakeholders.

Strong stakeholder engagement helps ensure that research findings contribute to public policy and practical decision-making.

Interdisciplinary Collaboration

The programme values research teams with expertise across multiple disciplines within the social sciences and humanities.

Projects may address issues related to:

• Society.
• Politics.
• Culture.
• Technology.
• Environment.
• Governance.
• Public policy.
• Community resilience.

Collaborative approaches are strongly encouraged.

Research Impact

Successful projects should:

• Improve public policy.
• Strengthen societal resilience.
• Enhance crisis preparedness.
• Inform governance strategies.
• Support sustainable development.
• Generate internationally relevant knowledge.
• Improve understanding of future societal transitions.

Why This Funding Matters

Societies worldwide face increasing uncertainty caused by climate change, technological transformation, political instability, demographic change, and economic disruption.

This programme supports research that helps governments, institutions, and communities:

• Better understand emerging risks.
• Prepare for future crises.
• Develop evidence-based policies.
• Build resilient societies.
• Strengthen international cooperation.
• Promote sustainable and inclusive development.

By supporting international collaboration, the programme encourages innovative solutions to shared global challenges.

How to Apply

Applicants should follow these general steps:

1. Develop a research project aligned with the Preparing for Tomorrow theme.
2. Form an international consortium with at least three eligible Co-Principal Investigators.
3. Ensure participation from at least three eligible countries representing both sides of the Atlantic.
4. Confirm eligibility requirements with each participating national funding organisation.
5. Prepare an interdisciplinary research proposal.
6. Include plans for stakeholder engagement and policy impact.
7. Demonstrate how the project addresses uncertainty, societal transitions, or future crises.
8. Submit the application according to the T-AP call guidelines and national funding agency requirements.

Tips for a Strong Application

To improve the likelihood of success:

• Develop a genuinely interdisciplinary project.
• Clearly demonstrate international collaboration.
• Explain the project’s societal relevance.
• Include experienced and early career researchers.
• Show meaningful stakeholder engagement.
• Present realistic objectives and timelines.
• Demonstrate expected policy and societal impact.
• Highlight innovation and long-term value.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Avoid the following errors:

• Forming a consortium with fewer than three eligible countries.
• Failing to include partners from both sides of the Atlantic.
• Submitting research outside the social sciences and humanities.
• Ignoring national eligibility requirements.
• Providing weak stakeholder engagement plans.
• Failing to explain policy relevance.
• Presenting unclear research objectives.
• Submitting incomplete application materials.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is the T-AP Preparing for Tomorrow call?

It is an international research funding programme supporting collaborative social sciences and humanities research on uncertainty, future crises, societal transitions, and resilience.

2. Who can apply?

Applications must be submitted by international research consortia consisting of at least three eligible Co-Principal Investigators from three participating countries, including representation from both sides of the Atlantic.

3. What research topics are eligible?

Eligible topics include uncertainty, crisis preparedness, future societal transitions, governance, resilience, prevention strategies, public policy, and interdisciplinary social sciences and humanities research.

4. Is international collaboration required?

Yes. Every proposal must involve researchers from at least three participating countries with representation from both Europe and Africa or the Americas.

5. Is funding available for Finnish researchers?

Yes. The Research Council of Finland has allocated €1,000,000 to support eligible Finnish research teams participating in funded international projects.

6. Are early career researchers encouraged to participate?

Yes. The programme actively supports the participation, mentoring, and professional development of early career researchers.

7. What makes a strong proposal?

Competitive proposals demonstrate interdisciplinary excellence, international collaboration, stakeholder engagement, policy relevance, innovative research questions, and a clear contribution to understanding and preparing for future societal challenges.

Conclusion

The Trans-Atlantic Platform (T-AP) Preparing for Tomorrow – Societies and Strategies in Times of Transition call provides an important opportunity for researchers across Europe, Africa, and the Americas to collaborate on addressing the challenges of uncertainty and societal change. By supporting interdisciplinary, policy-oriented, and internationally collaborative research, the programme contributes to stronger resilience, improved governance, and evidence-based strategies that help societies prepare for an increasingly uncertain future.

For more information, visit Research Council of Finland.