Welfare states are at a critical turning point. The development of welfare systems was one of the defining characteristics of the 20th century, especially in Europe. However, in times of change, it is important to re-think ‘the welfare state’ with a programme of innovative research designed to ask, and answer, fundamental questions about the design, delivery and experience of welfare in the 21st century. It is for this reason that the NORFACE network is launching an international research programme on the topic of Welfare State Futures. This highly topical theme offers an approach from a variety of perspectives and disciplines, enables and encourages multi-disciplinarity and offers a fruitful topic for a European approach, with interesting opportunities for comparison.Since 2004 the NORFACE Network has proved itself as a successful coordinated common action of – currently - sixteen national research funding agencies. NORFACE (New Opportunities for Research Funding Agency Cooperation in Europe) has offered unique opportunities for participating funding agencies by developing common research funding instruments, thus creating opportunities for facilitating and building new networks of research collaboration. Major achievements up until now have been three transnational initiatives: three rounds of the NORFACE Seminar Series in 2005, 2006 and 2007, the pilot research programme “Re-emergence of Religion as a Social Force in Europe?” (€ M 5,4) in 2006 and the transnational research programme “Migration in Europe - Social, Economic, Cultural and policy Dynamics” (€ M 23 and M € 6 ERA-Net Plus contribution) in 2008. In 2010, the NORFACE Network committed itself to launching a new innovate joint research programme on Welfare State Futures. In the planning of this new programme, NORFACE builds on the valuable experience gained in developing and running these previous Calls.