Forwards Studies Unit calls for expressions of interest for contractors The Forwards Studies Unit of the European Commission has issued a call for expressions of interest for contractors. The Forwards Studies Unit is a multi-disciplinary service, reporting to the President of the Commission, in an advisory and other support roles. It also has a r... The Forwards Studies Unit of the European Commission has issued a call for expressions of interest for contractors. The Forwards Studies Unit is a multi-disciplinary service, reporting to the President of the Commission, in an advisory and other support roles. It also has a research programme, which includes a dozen or more concurrent projects, on issues of relevance to European integration. The results of these projects are exploited in the advisory role of the Unit. The contribution which contractors make to these projects is usually in case studies or data collection and analysis, including comparative and trend analyses covering several countries. A selection of the responses to this call for expressions of interest will be compiled in a file of potential contractors who will subsequently be invited to submit tenders concerning activities in their fields. This file will be kept open until 6 May 2002. The list itself will be sub-divided into three areas, including, 'technological, economic and social innovation', 'governance, political systems and citizenship', and 'Europe in the world and neighbourhood relations'. The Forward Studies Unit conducts research in the area of technological, economic and social innovation to alert the Commission to issues that may affect the future performance of Europe, in terms of technological and economic development, and different aspects of social welfare. Research projects in this domain can cover such issues as the sustainability of economic development, trends in factors which support successful technological innovation, or the interplay between monetary union and the different welfare systems of the Member States. Expressions of interest should be submitted to: Mr William Floyd European Commission Forward Studies Unit A25 9/9 rue de la Loi 200 B-1049 Brussels Tel. +32-2-2960392; Fax +32-2-2952305 Telegraphic address: COMEUR Brussels
