In brief
Through its Scientific Development Programmes and rich array of activities, the Centre for Advanced Studies (CAS) provides a space for the scientific exploration and development of forward-looking, promising research ideas, and stimulates institutional innovation.
The CAS plays a key role in:
- fostering innovation through creative research, exploration and transdisciplinary thinking;
- facilitating talent acquisition and development;
- deepening and expanding collaboration with leading scientists and institutions; and
- strengthening JRC scientific excellence and impact through new approaches to support evidence-informed EU policymaking.
Scientific Development Programmes
The ER Programme encourages JRC scientists to propose exploratory and forward-looking research projects, enabling blue-sky thinking and supporting early-stage research as well as emerging policy demands.
The AIR Programme fosters new, forward-looking and interdisciplinary research ideas which – through the integrated perspectives of social sciences, humanities and STEM disciplines – advance the JRC’s capacity to address emerging scientific and societal challenges that could become relevant for EU policymaking in the future (5-10 years).
Current projects
VirtueS: Virtual Worlds and Society
The VirtueS project explores the role that virtual worlds could play in the EU over the coming years, shedding light on their potential implications for individuals and society, with special focus on minors, entrepreneurs and the economy.
Past projects
BounCE4ward: Circular Economy – A Recipe for More Strategic Autonomy?
BounCE4ward investigated how circular economy strategies (i.e. reducing, reusing, recycling) can be leveraged to foster strategic autonomy in priority supply chains, thereby increasing environmental and economic resilience in the EU.
CSS4P: Computational Social Science for Policy
Using computational methods, the project analysed digital trace data – our “digital footprints” – to model collective behaviours and better understand our society across different sectors (e.g. demography, health, employment, energy and democracy).
DIGCLASS: Social Classes in the Digital Age
In the context of the digital age, DiGCLASS examined the impact of technological change on social inequalities in the labour market, health outcomes, education and democratic processes in Europe.
EPICO: Epidemics – Dynamics and Control
EPICO addressed fundamental issues in epidemic prevention, preparedness and response strategies, with a particular focus on understanding and controlling the dynamics of vector-borne and respiratory infectious diseases.
HUMAINT: Digital Transformation – Human Behaviour and Machine Intelligence
The multi-disciplinary HUMAINT project studied the impact of AI systems on human behaviour, well-being and fairness, providing scientific insights to EU AI policies and supporting a value-centred and ethical use of AI.
bigNOMICS: Big Data for Forecasting Economic Developments
In light of the explosive growth of digital information, bigNOMICS tapped into novel big data sources to improve ‘nowcasting’ and forecasting of economic and financial developments through better data and better models.
The CDP Programme bolsters collaboration between Partner Institutions and the JRC, and aims to train a new generation of PhD graduates on the science-policy interface through joint doctoral research projects.
Supporting the mission of the CAS to foster innovation and strengthen collaboration with external research institutions, the VRP gives JRC scientists the opportunity to spend a dedicated period working with research teams at universities and other independent research organisations.
CAS projects and activities for institutional innovation
The CAS supports the JRC's participation in MSCA through its MSCA@JRC Programme. The JRC can participate in MSCA as an associated partner, allowing doctoral students and postdoctoral fellows to train at JRC facilities and use the JRC’s cutting-edge research infrastructure.
Bringing scientists, artists and policymakers together, JRC SciArt creates the space, time and conditions to exchange, investigate and co-create insights and activities that can meaningfully influence our collective lives.
The JRC has a long history of translating science into standards. In line with the Commission’s ambition to enhance industrial competitiveness and strategic autonomy, the CAS helps JRC scientists link their research to standardisation.
The Alumni Network brings together current and former JRC colleagues, providing a space for knowledge sharing, collaboration and continued scientific dialogue.
The CAS coordinates activities aimed at designing methods and tools to measure and increase the degree of interdisciplinarity in JRC research, integrating the perspective of social sciences into the JRC STEM work.
JRC Science insights provide rapid Science-for-Policy communication outputs to support political decision-making – from concise short-format "Spotlights" flagging emerging scientific topics to in-depth products such as Data stories and Deep dives.
