Enhancing Well-being for the Future 2023, step 2

About the call

Step 2 is open for researchers whose outline proposal was accepted in the first stage of the application process and that have received an invitation from CHANSE to submit a full proposal in step 2.

Despite our increased knowledge about well-being, the prevalence of mental health problems in the general population in Europe has not declined, and there is no evidence for improved happiness and well-being at a population level. On the contrary, new evidence suggests that due to turbulent times and increasing insecurity and uncertainty (related to e.g., war, economic uncertainty, measures to fight the Covid-19 pandemic or climate change) mental health issues and loneliness levels have increased across various social groups.

Mental health problems are currently one of the leading causes of disability, reduced working capacity, social decline, reduced quality of life, and premature mortality, which – in addition to having serious effects on the individuals – leads to high societal costs.

The aim of the call is to improve well-being for the future and to make these improvements sustainable for all groups in the population. What mechanisms is the basis for well-being? How does well-being develop over time? A special focus may also be needed on understanding well-being in specific (e.g., vulnerable) subgroups, including children, migrants, minority groups, and less economically and socially advantaged individuals.

Transnational collaboration

Within this call for proposals, only transnational projects will be granted funding. The call consists of project grants with a duration of between 24 and 36 months. Project teams are composed of 4-6 Principal Investigators, eligible to receive funding from four or more different countries participating in the call.

Forte and the Swedish Research Council will fund Swedish participants in the call. The Swedish applicants in a consortium can apply for up to a maximum amount of 2 million SEK per year (regardless how many Swedish researchers participate in the consortium). The total amount applied for cannot be changed between step 1 and step 2.

A complete application must be registered both via the EPSS call portal at CHANSE and via Prisma at Forte.

Scope of the call

Applications must cover one or more of the following areas, which are described in the call text on chanse.org External link.:

• Crises, challenges, and well-being.
• Environmental challenges and well-being.
• Well-being and mental health.
• Well-being, economy, and politics.