The PLATON+ workplan includes seven (7) highly interdependent and strongly interrelated workpackages (WP) that will be implemented in a period of 30 months.

WP2 and WP3 consist of preparatory workpackages and aim at developing the main infrastructure and intangible assets of the project. To do so they focus on:

• gathering and combining relevant experience and knowledge that the PLATON+ partners already posses,
• identifying specific requirements,
• developing and/ or adjusting the required specifications, methodologies and supporting tools and material and finally,
• developing the project portal and services.

Especially WP2 SSH Analysis consists of the backbone of PLATON+. Under this WP all the material needed for the further organisation of the project's activities and services will be produced. To be more specific, the following tasks will be completed:

1. An analysis of FP6, FP7 calls and workprogrammes (excluding CITIZENS priority and SSH theme).

2. An analysis of FP6-CITIZENS (already or to be completed soon) research projects  towards the identification of those with a multidisciplinary value.

3. An analysis of FP6 research projects (already or to be completed soon) under the following priorities: FOOD, HEALTH, IST, SUSDEV, NEST towards the identification of those incorporating strong socio-economic research aspects.

4. A list of SSH issues ('SSH Hot Topics') of special importance based on the mapping of FP5, FP6 and FP7 priorities and themes dedicated to Socio-economic research.

What is a SSH 'Hot' Topic?

A SSH topic is considered as 'hot' if it is assessed as important and if it can be successfully addressed by Social Science and Humanities (SSH) research. However, this definition is not strict and instead of the word 'important' one could use a longer description like if it addressses needs or problems considered as urgent.
Since no strict definition of a SSH 'hot' topic can arise, PLATON+ will focus its efforts towards the identification of hot topics only in the workprogrammes published by the EC. These will serve as the basis for the creation of the list of 'hot' topics.  

The outcome of WP2 and WP3 will reach the target groups/ users within the content of WP4 and WP6.

Conventional publicity, awareness creation & information activities and networking events will be planned, organised and implemented under WP6.

The collaboration and coordination with the European SSH research community is considered a major element of the project and therefore it is addressed through a separate workpackage: WP5.

The remaining 2 workpackages - WP1 and WP7 - deal with the project management and dissemination activities respectively. 

It should be mentioned that within WP7, PLATON+ partners will perform a needs survey towards the collection of information on behalf of policy makers and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) regarding:

1. The use of existing scientific/ academic SSH research project results and other sources of information

2. Their research fields of specific interest

3. The efficiency of instruments used by the EU for the dissemination of research results in the Socio-economic Sciences and Humanities area at a European level.  

The results of the needs survey will assist PLATON+ partners towards the better organisation of the project's events, activties and services.