Invitation to become an HBSC Member or Linked Project

Thank you for your interest in collaborating with the HBSC Network. We are very interested in working with international colleagues in the fields of child and adolescent health to promote and build on our current work. In addition to our existing categories of membership for countries within the WHO European Region and North America, we now have new opportunities for collaboration and partnership with both researchers and organisations in other parts of the world. Please see below for more information on the different types of membership and collaboration offered and how to contact the HBSC Membership team.

Types of HBSC Network Membership and Collaboration

Full Membership: Open to countries in the European Region of WHO

Currently, the HBSC Network has 43 Country Member Teams across Europe and North America. However, full membership to the HBSC Network is restricted to countries within the WHO European Region and North America.

Applications are welcomed from research groups in Member states in the WHO European Region that are not yet represented in the HBSC study. Please note that applications will only be accepted from countries where a HBSC National team does not already exist. If you are from the following WHO Region countries and interested in getting information on the process of becoming an HBSC Country Member, please contact: hbscmembership@hbsc.org

Countries in the WHO European Region not yet represented in the HBSC study:

Andorra, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cyprus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Montenegro, Republic of Moldova, San Marino, Serbia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan

Satellite Membership

As stated above, full membership to the HBSC is limited to countries located within the WHO European Region and North America. As such, the HBSC Network has recognised that countries/regions which are geographically within Europe but are not recognised by the WHO or EU as official Member States may like to participate in the Study. The creation of Satellite Membership has been created to provide an alternative tier of membership in the HBSC Network.

Please note that the terms of Satellite Membership are quite different from Full Membership. Also, HBSC Satellite Membership does not extend to separate regions within existing HBSC countries e.g. Catalonia in Spain, Italian regions, etc.

Information requests are welcomed from research groups from the following countries/regions:

Faroe Islands, Channels Islands, Isle of Man, Monaco, Liechtenstein

If you are from any of the above countries and interested in getting more information on how Satellite membership works or the process of becoming an HBSC Satellite Member, please contact: hbscmembership@hbsc.org

Linked Project Collaboration: Open to researchers in countries/ teams outside North America and the WHO European Region

What is a Linked Project?

In all fields of research it is important that researchers from across countries are able to have a forum to discuss and develop research activities. The HBSC Network has created the Linked Project Status in order gain further understanding of those who use HBSC instruments outside of Europe and North America. These groups may already use previous HBSC abridged protocols or survey instruments to conduct surveys in their countries/regions or may interested in doing so.

Who can register to be a Linked Project?

Researchers and research groups in non-HBSC Member countries outside of Europe and North America are eligible to register as Linked Projects.

Potential candidates for this type of status are not eligible for any of the above categories of HBSC membership nor will they have automatic access to HBSC data.

What are the benefits of becoming a Linked Project?

This new type of HBSC status has been created in order to facilitate collaboration with researchers and research groups. If accepted as a Linked Project, your research activities will be promoted on a separate area of the HBSC website, you will be invited to any open non-member HBSC conferences and scientific meetings and you will be able to participate on a digital forum where you will be able to leave questions for and communicate with HBSC members.

How do I become a Linked Project?

If you are interested in finding out more information regarding the Linked Project status in HBSC, please email linkedprojects@hbsc.org

If you would like to apply to become a Linked Project, please complete the Linked Project Registration Form [Word 478KB]. Please note that all applications must be approved by the HBSC International Coordinating Centre. The HBSC Network reserves the right to deny applications from researchers/research groups who work in fields outside of HBSC’s remit, are commercial in nature or conduct research which is contrary to the ethos of the HBSC Network.