Core thematic areas

Within the European Centre’s Social Protection and Inclusion Research Team we design, coordinate and implement projects in the fields of

• social inclusion and social protection policies
• poverty, income inequality and non-monetary aspects of well-being
• social services and support measures for marginalized groups and;
• the ageing society.

Core expertise

Our Team employs researchers and policy advisers experienced in various social scientific methods. Our core expertise at the Team comprises:

• Research: qualitative and quantitative research methods such as microsimulation and modelling, comparative research, interviews and case-studies. We have specific expertise in minimum income schemes, income distribution, poverty and material deprivation, social inclusion of marginalized groups, development and financing of person-centered social support services, social innovation, and transition processes.
• Policy consultation: planning, monitoring and evaluation of social protection policies as well as support services and measures for marginalized groups (e.g. persons with disabilities, children, people experiencing poverty etc.). We have specific expertise in analyzing the take-up of social assistance and minimum income support schemes and performing impact and outcome ex-post and ex-ante evaluation of social support services. We facilitate regularly social policy dialogue, mutual learning among different stakeholders, provide tailor-made training modules and carry out other consultation processes by using various formats such as focus groups, and participatory methods.

Our clients

Many of our projects are based on international cooperation and networks with partners particularly from the EU and beyond. Our clients include, among others, the European Commission (e.g. DG Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, DG Research, DG Regional and Urban Policy), EU agencies (e.g. EU Agency for Fundamental Rights), international organisations (e.g. UNICEF, UNDP, UNECE, UNFPA, World Bank, WHO), regional organizations (e.g. the Regional Cooperation Council of South East Europe), various ministries (e.g. the Austrian Federal Ministry of Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection, the Swedish Ministry of Health and Social Affairs), FWF Austrian Science Fund, the Chamber of Labour Upper Austria, regional authorities (e.g. the City of Vienna), and NGOs (e.g. SOS Children’s Villages Worldwide, Fundación ONCE).

Within the European Centre’s Bridging Function, the SPI Research Team establishes a network with EU acceding countries of Eastern Europe and the countries of the Eastern Partnership in the areas of social protection and inclusion of marginalised groups into society.