Targeted Socio-Economic Research under the Fourth Framework Programme The Commission has released (10 March 1994) descriptions of each of the specific programmes within the Fourth Framework Programme. These include an overview of work to be undertaken in the field of targeted socio-economic research: This is a new RTD field in the forthcoming F... The Commission has released (10 March 1994) descriptions of each of the specific programmes within the Fourth Framework Programme. These include an overview of work to be undertaken in the field of targeted socio-economic research: This is a new RTD field in the forthcoming Framework Programme, aiming to encourage the integration of technologies into society, and to anticipate future social priorities, in order to aid the European Union's advance into the 21st century. Three research areas are covered: - "Examination of scientific and technological policy options", to fully establish a policy of scientific and technological development, particularly reinforcing the system for technological forecasting and evaluation. With the support of the European Technology Assessment Network (ETAN), financed by the programme, strategic analyses will be carried out on economic, industrial and socio-economic factors; - "Research in education and training", to improve education and training systems and ensure they are in phase with technological advance, with RTD focused in particular on new education and training technologies and new forms of teacher/student interaction; - "Research on social integration and social exclusion in Europe", with the aim of developing the knowledge and tools required to fight social exclusion, analysing its causes and mechanisms (particularly economic) and to compare different policies of social integration in Europe. It should be noted that economic and social research will be undertaken within each of the specific programmes of the Fourth Framework Programme, for instance in the form of impact studies, socio-economic analyses of the transfer of RTD results, or the training and mobility of researchers in economics and social sciences.
