Introduction

At the start of the new millennium, social and economic realities in Belgium appear increasingly complex. The objectives of the Society and Future programme are to untangle these complex phenomena and provide the scientific knowledge that is necessary to enable the federal state to respond successfully to the challenges it faces.

The Society and Future programme has been set up around requirements for knowledge – within the scope of competency of the federal state – for which the social sciences are able to offer responses. It aims to promote research which meets three criteria:

relevance to decision-making;
high scientific standard;
citizen involvement.

The programme runs from 2005 to 2010 and has a budget of €14.6 m at its disposal for financing research projects.