This proposal outlines a detailed plan for ensuring the sustainability of one of Europe’s leading social science research infrastructures - the European Social Survey, European Research Infrastructure Consortium (ESS ERIC). As a comparative general social survey the ESS needs to have generous national coverage to provide analytical power and ensure it keeps up with the changing scientific and research infrastructure landscape. Failure in one or more of these areas could damage or even destroy the infrastructure. This grant will substantially reduce the risk by securing the medium-term sustainability of the infrastructure and making it more resilient towards future challenges. The ESS has responded effectively to the ESFRI approach since it became an ERIC in 2013 and receives sizeable financial contributions from its members for core activities. ESS-SUSTAIN-2 aims to build on that support and creates sustainability through a structural strengthening of the ESS and by future proofing the infrastructure. ESS is not seeking another few years Commission funding to keep it afloat, an approach unlikely to yield long-term sustainability (and in any event these costs are now met by ERIC members). Rather it seeks a vital helping hand to help complete the transition of the ESS into a research infrastructure that is financially sound and scientifically equipped for the future. By developing links with the European Values Survey, establishing global partners, engaging with policy makers, harnessing technology to improve efficiency and cost effectiveness and launching the world’s first probability-based online panel, this proposal aims to give the European Social Survey the strongest possible foundation to succeed in the years ahead.

EULEP is the European Learning Experience Platform that brings together 20 organisations from 8 countries, working together to make C-VET more attractive for lifelong learning, offer businesses new and tailor-made training modules that correspond to their skills needs in innovation oriented subjects (artificial intelligence, virtual reality and social innovation), establish or reinforce knowledge triangles at regional and national level thanks to the triangulation business - VET provider - European Digital Innovation Hub (EDIH), embed VET in regional economic development strategies and reinforce its governance, putting it on a sustainable path.The project activities target directly VET providers, companies, potential VET learners from different horizons, EDIHs, public authorities and other stakeholders involved in the VET governance process or dealing with VET more widely.Some 500 companies take part in the different activities indicating their skills needs, evaluating and testing project outcomes. 24 VET trainers will be trained in 1 European Learning Academy, learning the 3 modules and training paths, and will in a second step train in total 240 VET trainers and 480 company employees/workers in their respective countries. 160 participants will join regional multiplier events, and a much higher number (tbc) will benefit from the information provided during the wide VET promotion campaigns. Regional VET Councils will draft 8 smart VET strategies and 8 action plans to put the project outcomes on a sustainable footing. 2 major project events will gather some 170 stakeholders.In total, 30 mostly electronic deliverables are foreseen. They include project management templates, tools and methodologies for training modules creation and teaching, recommendations for transnational VET modules development, a guidebook for SMEs, EDIH partnership MoUs, regional VET strategies and action plans and most importantly an online learning platform for VET providers.