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Social Sciences and Humanities Opportunities in Horizon Europe Pillar 2: Understanding the 2026-27 Work Programme

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About the workshop

The British Academy hosted a one-day workshop for UK-based social sciences and humanities (SSH) researchers seeking to engage with Horizon Europe Pillar 2 opportunities in the 2026-27 Work Programme.

Pillar 2 with calls across six clusters offers substantial opportunities for researchers in the social sciences and humanities, both through SSH-led calls and as an integral component of interdisciplinary projects.

This workshop brings together representatives from the European Commission's Directorate General for Research and Innovation (DG RTD) and wider stakeholders to help researchers and research offices understand where and how SSH expertise fits within the 2026-27 Work Programme, what makes proposals competitive, and how to navigate Horizon Europe effectively.

The event was designed to focus on orientation and insight, rather than matchmaking or proposal drafting.

The workshop was open to:

  • UK-based researchers in social sciences and humanities disciplines
  • Research development managers, EU funding advisors, and professional services staff supporting Horizon Europe engagement

Programme

The workshop ran from 09:30 to 17:00. The day included presentations from DG RTD on SSH opportunities across the 2026 and 2027 Pillar 2 calls, as well as panel discussions with experienced UK researchers and research managers sharing lessons from successful Pillar 2 applications, consortia building, and integrating SSH expertise effectively.

Panel Recordings

Panel One:

Social Sciences and Humanities Opportunities in Horizon Europe’s 2026 Pillar 2 Calls

Chair: Philip Lewis, Head of Global Strategy, Policy & Engagement, The British Academy

Henriette van Eijl, Deputy to the Director, Directorate D – People: Health & Society; Head of Unit D.3 – Health and Societal Transitions, DG Research and Innovation, European Commission, to present:

  • SSH Opportunities in 2026 Pillar 2 Calls

Panel Two:

Lessons from successful UK participation in Pillar 2 in integrating the Social Sciences and Humanities

The panel will share:

  • Examples of how to effectively integrate the social sciences and humanities into Pillar 2 projects, including how to communicate the value and need of those insights on topics/calls that are shaped with other perspectives in mind
  • Q&A from the floor

Chair: Philip Lewis, Head of Global Strategy, Policy & Engagement, The British Academy

  • Loes Veldpaus (Architecture and Urban Planning, Newcastle University) – HEPP award holder
  • Sunil Hutchin-Bellur, Development Manager (Culture & Environment), University of Glasgow
  • Rocio Diaz-Chavez, Senior Research Fellow, Centre for Environmental Policy, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Imperial College London

Panel Three:

Insights from successful UK application building in Pillar 2

The panel will share:

  • Examples of how to successfully navigate the Pillar 2 application process and how to understand and use the application form effectively
  • What made proposals competitive and how SSH expertise was positioned effectively
  • Q&A from the floor

Chair: Branwen Hide, Research Development Manager (EU), Imperial College London

  • Hatice Muge Satar Coen (Applied Linguistics, Newcastle University) – HEPP award holder
  • Dr Dora Merai, Lecturer in Heritage and Museum Studies, Newcastle University
  • Barbara De Angelis, Funding Development Officer (Pre-Award), European Funding Specialism, University of Greenwich

Panel Four:

Social Sciences and Humanities Opportunities in Horizon Europe’s 2027 Pillar 2 Calls

Chair: Philip Lewis, Head of Global Strategy, Policy & Engagement, The British AcademyEva Gerhards, Deputy Head of Unit D.3 – Health and Societal Transitions, DG Research and Innovation, European Commission, to present:

  • SSH Opportunities in 2027 Pillar 2 Calls

Panel Five:

Insights from successful UK consortia building in Pillar 2

The panel will share:

  • Examples of how to successfully build Pillar 2 consortia effectively and what pitfalls there are to avoid and tips to take on board
  • Practical advice for ECRs and mid-career researchers engaging with Pillar 2 for the first time
  • Q&A from the floor

Chair: Marie Adams, Head of Research and Partnership Development, University of Leicester

  • Jill Jameson (Education, University of Greenwich) – HEPP award holder
  • Rosi Song (Modern Languages and Cultures, Durham University) – not a HEPP award holder but a PI of a Horizon Europe Pillar 2 project, and also received a BA Small Research Grant in 2024
Social Sciences and Humanities Opportunities in Horizon Europe’s 2026 Pillar 2 Calls
Lessons from successful UK participation in Pillar 2 in integrating the Social Sciences and Humanities
Insights from successful UK application building in Pillar 2
Social Sciences and Humanities Opportunities in Horizon Europe’s 2027 Pillar 2 Calls
Insights from successful UK consortia building in Pillar 2

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