ESS-INNOVATE

The European Social Survey (ESS) measures the social conditions and attitudes of Europeans, charting stability and change. Its data informs academia, education, policy analysis and media, offering the citizen perspective on Europe's challenges. As the ESS nears its 25th anniversary, it faces critical areas needing attention. First, while ESS ERIC membership is high, full EU coverage remains unrealised, with the potential to include more EU candidate countries. Second, the ESS is transitioning from face-to-face to web and paper self-completion data collection. Although ERIC members support core elements of this change, gaps in technology and methodology require urgent attention. Third, the ESS aims to develop its ‘between-wave’ online-first panel (CRONOS) by 2029, yet this upgrade isn't secured and needs immediate support for successful integration into core operations. ESS-Innovate will address these areas by sustaining and increasing membership through publishing the latest ESS impact case study and redeploying a successful membership development model. It will introduce AI tools for the first time to improve automation and quality in survey operations, enhancing data processing and analysis. Additionally, it will prepare more countries to join the CRONOS web-first panel, ensuring high-quality sample maintenance and panel care. These efforts will position Europe as a leader in comparative social research and enable the ESS to meet emerging technological and methodological demands, ensuring it continues to deliver high-quality data and services to stakeholders. Together, these actions will ensure the ESS mode switch ends ‘beyond the state of the art’ and places Europe as a leader in social research. With ESS-Innovate, the RI will address emerging technological, methodological and organisational demands, ensuring that the ESS infrastructure continues to provide high-quality data and services to its users and stakeholders, securing its influence into the future.