Research activities

IRPPS is an interdisciplinary research institute. Our research activities focus on population studies, demographics and migration issues, welfare systems and social policies; science, technology, innovation and higher education policies, science and society relationships; creation, access and diffusion of knowledge; information and communication technology.

Our activity combines a mix of analytical, theoretical and empirical studies, accross disciplinary boundaries in three main research fields:

Relationships between population trends, social and economic development
Social dynamics and policies in the welfare systems
Changes in knowledge, technology and society, ICTs

Research fields:

- Analysis of demographic and social behaviour and their interactions, related to the changes taking place, their impact on society, and new demands for services and policy actions. The research gives special attention to the gender perspective and uses data from surveys on selected population groups.
- Research on science education and public communication of science to understand and exploit the science-society relationship; analysis, testing and evaluation of methodologies and innovative approaches to participation and communication; qualitative and quantitative inquiries on public perception of science and its values.
- The study of population trends at different territorial scale and their effects on regional policies as well as on economic and social environments, the analysis of trends, causes, impacts and policies of international and internal migration.
- Analysis of the economic, technological and political dimensions of globalization. Determinants and impact of globalization. Models and indicators to identify and quantify phenomena. Analysis of the global governance processes and of the perspectives for democratic reform of international organizations. Examine of the transformation of citizenship.
- Analysis, development and diffusion of models and systems enabling and enhancing access to information technology; studies on impacts of pervasive use of ICTs in relation to changes in services provided/consumed by professionals, administrators and citizens.
- Analysis of social policies, with specific attention on social inclusion issues, also in reference to the so-called disadvantaged groups (older workers, immigrants, disabled persons) at risk of exclusion; studies on vocational education and higher education policies.
- Analysis of the relationships between research, innovation and education with particular focus on intellectual capital, human resources for science and technology, tertiary education, high-skilled migration and mobility, studies on new forms of transmission of information, access and dissemination of knowledge and information, on social impact of new technologies.
Compared analysis of the Italian welfare model and its major areas (pension, health and social welfare, education and training, labour market) studies on the way social policies are set up and implemented both at local and national level, and on the role of State, market, third sector and family in the welfare system.
- Analysis, design and development of information systems that support the information management of clinical research, in particular clinical trials.