Strengthening of the European Science for Policy Ecosystem

Expected Outcome:The successful proposal will deliver on the following impact: “A more robust and interconnected European Science for Policy (S4P) ecosystem that better supports evidence-informed policymaking across sectors and governance levels”.

Project results are expected to contribute to all of the following expected outcomes:

• Increased connectivity of S4P actors and networks that enhances interactions, mutual learning, collaboration, capacity building, and promotion of S4P practices and knowledge, while also strengthening pan-European and international ecosystems.
• S4P approaches are mainstreamed in national R&I policy institutions at all levels of governance through coordinated efforts and mutual learning across Europe.
• The concept of “Science for Policy” is further developed and widely adopted among S4P stakeholders and actors through identification of best practices, guides and frameworks at different levels of governance and across thematic sectors.

Scope:Science for evidence-informed policymaking or Science for Policy (S4P) refers to the use of the best available scientific evidence, knowledge, and expertise to inform policymaking, aiming to achieve better public policies. By integrating science into policymaking, governments and organisations can make better-informed decisions and develop effective strategies that are grounded in a deeper understanding of complex and interconnected issues.

The need for a structured scientific support to policymaking at EU, national and subnational levels is in line with the principle of evidence-based policymaking acknowledged in the Pact for Research and Innovation in Europe[1] and is underscored in several recent EU policy documents and initiatives[2]. The summary conclusions on the Policy Debate “Towards a European S4P ecosystem” adopted in June 2022 by the European Research Area and Innovation Committee (ERAC)[3] and the Council conclusions on “Strengthening the role and impact of R&I in the policymaking process in the European Union” adopted in December 2023[4] specifically call upon the Commission to play a key role in coordinating actions in this domain.

In line with what is outlined in the above-mentioned documents, this action aims to pursue the following objectives:

• Further develop the concept of “Science for Policy” and improve the cross-cutting integration of scientific evidence and knowledge in public policies.
• Advance and strengthen the European S4P ecosystem across sectors and governance levels.
• Promote the collaboration of networks of relevant actors and foster the identification and exchange of best practices and mutual learning.

Accordingly, the main focus of the funded project should be to carry out the following activities:

1. Nurturing and animating a Science for Policy Community of Practice that, working with other relevant existing networks and communities of practice, will identify and bring together interested S4P actors and stakeholders to enable the identification of common concepts, challenges and approaches, the exchange of information, ways of working and good practices; mutual learning and competence sharing and exchanges, and the promotion of S4P across Europe and beyond. The community of practice must engage and involve S4P stakeholders and actors (scientists, academia, intermediaries and knowledge brokers, science advisors, policymakers/political authorities, civil society organisations, etc.) at all levels of governance. The community of practice should also encompass an international dimension[5].

The community of practice must be facilitated by appropriate digital collaboration tools, including an active online presence. It must remain open to new stakeholders and interested parties all along the process. A dedicated governance body should be set up to coordinate closely with the Commission to ensure good policy alignment and communication. Additionally, and in close collaboration with the community of practice, events, training and peer learning activities must be organised to strengthen skills and competences, enable the engagement and collaboration of S4P actors and networks, and to amplify the impact and reach of the community of practice.

2. Providing operational support to the Network of Science for Policy Correspondents, to be set up by the Commission in the second quarter of 2025. The network will bring together officials working on S4P in national R&I policy institutions across Europe with the aim to coordinate efforts to mainstream S4P approaches in their respective administrations at all levels of governance and foster mutual learning across countries. The support must include logistical assistance such as organising key meetings, agenda development, and facilitation of events employing effective participatory and inclusive methods.

3. Creating an observatory of the European S4P landscape and its practices with the collaboration of both the network and the community of practice. The exercise should map the institutional landscape by developing or making use of an appropriate taxonomy that builds on relevant existing initiatives, frameworks and Commission activities (see below). In addition, in the first half of the project, a repository of good S4P practices and use cases must be established, including a toolkit and an analysis of success factors and common challenges of operating at the science-policy interface, to be kept up to date throughout the project.

4. Regularly convening the network, the community of practice, and other interested stakeholders to discuss how to create the necessary conditions to enable effective engagement between research and policy and to support the production and uptake of scientific evidence, knowledge, and expertise in policymaking. This may focus on specific thematic areas to explore how S4P approaches are implemented in specific sectors (e.g., sustainable food systems, energy transition). Such dialogues are encouraged to also take place in alignment with Council presidencies.

5. Developing publicly available outputs (policy briefs, factsheets, resources and instruments for practitioners, etc.) in support of the above activities and promoting and disseminating the outcomes and results of the action to target groups through the deployment of a comprehensive communication strategy. These materials and tools should be widely disseminated and made available to the network and the community of practice.

Overall, proposals should implement a multi-actor approach and demonstrate a commitment to disciplinary and geographical diversity and gender-sensitive approaches in all activities. It is expected that the applicants have experience in the field of science for policy, as well as in organisation and facilitation of participatory multi-actor processes and events.

To ensure complementarity, proposals should capitalise and build on relevant Commission S4P initiatives, such as the Mutual Learning Exercise ‘Bridging the Gap between Science and Policy’[6] and the work of the Commission’s Joint Research Centre on S4P competencies and skills[7] and institutional capacity building[8], and other relevant initiatives like the Guiding Principles for Knowledge Valorisation[9]. With its expertise in institutional, individual and community capacity building for S4P, the JRC may support the consortium in delivering the expected outcomes and assure complementarity of the project with public administration reforms conducted in several Member States under the Technical Support Instrument[10].

The duration of this action should not exceed 3 years.

[1] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32021H2122.

[2] COM SWD (2022) 346 final of October 2022, Supporting and connecting policymaking in the Member States with scientific research, https://knowledge4policy.ec.europa.eu/file/staff-working-document-supporting-connecting-policymaking-member-states-scientific-research_en.

[3] ERAC Summary Conclusions of the Policy Debate ‘Towards a European Science for Policy ecosystem’, https://data.consilium.europa.eu/doc/document/ST-13213-2023-INIT/en/pdf.

[4] Council conclusions on strengthening the role and impact of research and innovation in the policymaking process in the Union, 16450/23, https://data.consilium.europa.eu/doc/document/ST-15118-2023-INIT/en/pdf.

[5] By involving relevant networks, including the European Science Advisors Forum (ESAF), the European Parliamentary Technology Assessment network (EPTA) and the International Network for Government Science Advice (INGSA) amongst others, as well as intergovernmental organisations (e.g., UN, OECD).

[6] Funded by Horizon Policy Support Facility, https://projects.research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/en/statistics/policy-support-facility/psf-challenge/mutual-learning-exercise-bridging-gap-between-science-and-policy.

[7] https://knowledge4policy.ec.europa.eu/evidence-informed-policy-making/topic/learning-development_en.

[8] See the JRC initiative to build capacity for evidence-informed policymaking in 7 Member States, https://knowledge4policy.ec.europa.eu/evidence-informed-policy-making/topic/reforms-science-policy-7-member-states_en.

[9] https://research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/research-area/industrial-research-and-innovation/eu-valorisation-policy/knowledge-valorisation-platform/guiding-principles-knowledge-valorisation-and-implementing-codes-practice_en.

[10] See the JRC initiative to build capacity for evidence-informed policymaking in 7 Member States, https://knowledge4policy.ec.europa.eu/evidence-informed-policy-making/topic/reforms-science-policy-7-member-states_en.