Jean Pierre Wilken is a social scientist and health psychologist. His research areas include social inclusion, integrated approaches of social work and health care, and methods of practice-based research. Since 2002 he is working in the Research Centre for Social Innovation at Utrecht University of Applied Sciences. His chair is Participation, Care and Support for persons in vulnerable positions. Jean Pierre Wilken is involved in a number of research programmes around the changes in the welfare state, and how it affects citizens in vulnerable positions as well as the work of social and health professionals. Since 2013, he is also connected to Tartu University, Estonia, and the Catholic University of Milan, Italy, as a visiting professor of Social Work and Social Innovation.