Researchers are invited to submit proposals focusing on the topic of Futures of Work: Shaping Human-Centered Digital Transformation.

Overview

The digital transformation of work is reshaping economies, organizations, and everyday labor practices across sectors and diverse global contexts. Advances in artificial intelligence, automation, and data-driven systems create new opportunities for innovation and efficiency. Concurrently, these advances present significant challenges concerning sustainability, equity, and workers’ agency in diverse labor contexts, including platform economies and informal work.

Societies and public and private organizations face the challenge of balancing efficiency, sustainability, and human-centered approaches to organizing work. This involves aligning digital technologies with ethical principles while addressing regulatory uncertainties and emerging forms of inequality associated with platform-based work, algorithmic management, and data-driven labor practices. Strengthening trust in emerging technologies can be achieved through transparency and ethical design. Furthermore, new approaches to education and training are essential for ensuring people’s participation and agency in the digital transformation of work.

Research Focus Areas

Fellowship proposals from all disciplines are encouraged that advance cutting-edge research and foster inter- or transdisciplinary exchange. Proposals should explore how the digital transformation of work can be shaped in socially responsible, participatory, human-centered, and sustainable ways. Particular encouragement is given to projects that examine these transformations across different global and socio-economic contexts.

Potential areas of inquiry include:

• How AI systems, data-driven forms of work, automation, and platform economies reshape work processes and conditions in different world regions and labor contexts.
• How digital transformation of work can be ethically justified, and which values should be prioritized when sustainability, social responsibility, efficiency, and profit orientation conflict.
• Which societal, organizational, and economic conditions foster or impede human-centered digital transformation of work.
• What forms of governance and regulation are needed to strengthen participation, fairness, and accountability in digitally transformed workplaces.
• The role of corporate social responsibility (CSR) in promoting ethical business practices and fair working conditions in contexts of digital transformation.
• Ethical, legal, and social challenges (e.g., bias, data privacy concerns) arising from the use of AI in the workplace, and how trustworthy systems can be designed to support transparency, fairness, and accountability.
• What skills, forms of knowledge, and educational approaches are necessary to prepare people for working with AI while ensuring that technology augments rather than replaces human capabilities.

Application Details

Proposals are invited from all disciplines that advance cutting-edge research and foster inter- or transdisciplinary exchange, potentially involving unions, companies, civil society organizations, or policymakers.

Deadline: 31 August 2026

Applications must be submitted via the application form available on the portal's website. Further details regarding the fellowship program and the application process are available through the general open call.