The international research group ‘Transnational dynamics of social reform, 1840-1940’ consists of researchers from seven countries aims at opening new perspectives on the history of social reform and reform activism between the mid 19th and mid 20th century. At a European and also global level, the project highlights the ways in which local and national welfare regimes and reform agendas emerged in this period and demonstrates that such arrangements were deeply embedded in transnational contacts. For a period of three years the project has received funding from the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research in order to integrate ongoing research and to create institutional synergies.