Generating and connecting knowledge to understand social challenges and contribute to more effective action.
What we do
The Social Observatory of the ”la Caixa” Foundation is a space for generating and connecting knowledge that contributes to a better understanding of major social challenges.
Through research, analysis and its dissemination, it promotes more informed decision-making, strengthens the Foundation’s programmes and enriches public debate.
It drives the production of social knowledge through its own studies and competitive calls, and works in collaboration with academia, public administrations and the third sector to turn knowledge into action.
In this context, the Social Observatory collaborates with the social ecosystem, fostering spaces for dialogue and connections between research, programmes and social actors. Palau Macaya—an International UNESCO Centre for the Social and Human Sciences—plays a key role as a space for meeting and reflection, from which initiatives for dialogue, collaboration and the identification of emerging needs are promoted, contributing to the development of proposals with social impact.
More information about the UNESCO Centre Palau Macaya
Social research calls
The Social Observatory supports research in social sciences through three types of competitive call: the Social Research Call, Flash Calls and the Connect Call.
Social Research Call
The annual Social Research Call for Spain and Portugal promotes high-quality knowledge in order to understand and identify the challenges facing our society through studies based on quantitative data. The call is open to social research projects of any kind and provides financial support of up to €115,000, with a maximum duration of 24 months.
Connect Call
The annual Conecta call for proposals is aimed at research projects carried out by multidisciplinary teams. The objective is to encourage collaboration between academia, the tertiary sector, and public administration to collect data that will help find solutions to social issues.
This call offers funding of up to €100,000 for projects with a maximum duration of 24 months.
Consult all the information related to the social research calls on the Social Observatory website.
Spotlight
Education and social (re)integration after imprisonment
Education and Training Programs (ETPs) help develop skills and plan for the future, but do they truly prepare inmates for the job market?
Management training as a strategy for social mobility and inclusion
This study reveals how management training can transform Portuguese SMEs. The results are based on a survey of more than 600 entrepreneurs.
Gender and political views in Europe: Is the divide widening among youth?
Discover how social networks shape the political views of young people in Europe, widening the gender gap.
Well-being and life satisfaction among Portuguese youth
The study investigates the factors that influence the life satisfaction and well-being of young Portuguese people, emphasising the importance of health, self-esteem and social involvement.
Young people, opportunities and futures
What challenges do young people face in Portugal and Spain? In the second dossier of the Social Observatory, we analyse aspects such as performance in the education system, integration into the labour market or emancipation from the family home.
Research and Innovation in Portugal and Spain
What are the factors that define a country’s research and innovation system? The first Dossier from the Social Observatory of the ”la Caixa” Foundation analyses the case of Spain and Portugal in international comparison.
Documents of interest
Social Observatory 2024
We generate and communicate knowledge in social sciences.