FONDATION NATIONALE DES SCIENCES POLITIQUES

Their core work

Sciences Po is France's premier research university in political science, economics, and sociology, producing influential research on governance, migration, trade, and social inequality across Europe and globally. They combine quantitative methods (econometrics, big data, network analysis) with deep qualitative expertise in policy analysis, making them a bridge between academic social science and real-world policy design. Their H2020 portfolio spans 64 projects covering EU legitimacy, nuclear weapons governance, financial systems, climate transition pathways, and democratic participation — consistently translating complex social phenomena into actionable policy insights.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In 2015-2018, Sciences Po focused heavily on EU foreign policy, behavioral economics, and environmental security — projects like LOBFRAM, SOWELL, and EDGE reflect classic political science and economics research with individual Marie Curie fellowships playing a major role. From 2019 onward, the focus shifted decisively toward migration governance, social movements, accountability, and democratic transformation, with projects like MAGYC and NUCLEAR tackling urgent geopolitical questions. There is also a visible turn toward computational social science methods, with network analysis and digital public space research (SOCSEMICS) gaining prominence.

Sciences Po is moving toward politically urgent, data-intensive research on democratic governance, migration, and social mobilization — expect them to seek partners with computational social science or crisis governance capabilities.

How they like to work

Sciences Po operates as both a leader and a strong partner almost equally — coordinating 30 projects and participating in 33 — which signals confidence in running large research agendas while remaining open to joining broader consortia. With 397 unique partners across 51 countries, they function as a major European hub rather than a closed network, connecting diverse institutions across disciplines. Their heavy use of MSCA Individual Fellowships (13 projects) also means they attract top international researchers, making them a talent magnet that enriches any consortium they join.

An exceptionally wide network spanning 397 unique partners in 51 countries, making Sciences Po one of the most connected social science institutions in H2020. Their partnerships reach well beyond Western Europe into global research collaborations on governance, migration, and economic policy.

What sets them apart

Sciences Po occupies a rare position as both a world-class political science research university and a policy-facing institution with direct influence on European governance debates. Unlike purely academic partners, they bring immediate credibility with policymakers and media, which strengthens the dissemination and impact dimensions of any consortium. Their ability to combine rigorous quantitative economics (trade networks, econometrics) with qualitative political analysis (migration, democracy, security) makes them uniquely versatile for interdisciplinary social science projects.

Highlights from their portfolio

• SOWELL
  EUR 1.57M ERC Consolidator Grant on social preferences and well-being — their largest single award, running 6 years, combining behavioral economics with big data approaches.
• NUCLEAR
  EUR 1.48M project on nuclear weapons governance (2018-2025) — a rare topic in H2020 that positions Sciences Po at the intersection of security studies and historical responsibility research.
• TRADENET
  Coordinator of a 6-year project on firm-to-firm trade networks — bridges academic economics with practical understanding of global value chains and trade disruption.