21‐24 January 2025 (Online pre‐events: 3, 10 and 17 Dec. 2024)
Paris, France
Welcome to the event page of the EuSPRI early career training on ‘Mission‐Oriented Science‐Policy
Dialogues’. This event is co‐organized by the Laboratoire Interdisciplinaire Sciences, Innovations,
Sociétés (LISIS) and the Austrian Institute of Technology (AIT), Center for Innovation Systems & Policy.
This webpage contains background information on the event, insight into the structure of the training,
how to apply for participation, and key dates to consider.
In case of any questions, please contact the local organizing team at: scipol_training@umr-lisis.fr
Background
How do we learn to engage in dialogue at the science‐policy interface? Several formats and initiatives
for (un‐directional) policy advice exist, but bridging between the different environments is not
straightforward and requires mutual (bidirectional) learning. In addition, established formats usually
focus on experienced researchers and policymakers, and exclude early career individuals, which
underlines the importance of (re)educating both researchers and policymakers of the future to
systematically collaborate and leverage scientific as well as policy knowledge. The recent emergence
of transformative and mission‐oriented STI policies (TIP and MOIP) requires a new and cross‐sectoral
approach to policy making, thus leaving renewed impetus to build relationships between science and
policy in addressing societal challenges.
In 2023, an exploratory initiative called Policy Dialogues Demonstrator (P2D), was launched by
researchers from EU‐SPRI partner organisations: Fraunhofer ISI (coordinator), AIT, Ingenio and LISIS
(https://euspri‐forum.eu/exploratory‐initiatives/p2d‐policy‐dialogues‐demonstrator/). This initiative
aims to develop and pilot new formats of dialogue between STI policy research and policymaking
practice in Europe. This training is one of the demonstrators, to nurture new generations of early
career professionals able to navigate within the science‐policy interface.
This training is a joint event for early‐career researchers with early‐career professionals in the policy
arena (e.g. ministries, funding agencies, etc.). The aim is to create a dialogue between both groups,
and in this way, to nurture a new generation of professionals at the science‐policy interface. It provides
a learning exercise in mission‐oriented science‐policy dialogues towards:
- Understanding mutual perspectives, professional values, needs and constraints;
- Understanding the process of co‐production in terms of problems and solutions to improve
policy making, and; - Generating reflexivity for increased societal impacts.
Structure of the Training
The training comprises a three‐stage process (summarised in Table 1):
Phase 1: Online pre‐events (3, 10, and 17 December 2024)
In the first phase, we organise three online (plenary) pre‐events, consisting of three main elements
to: 1) provide insights into the contexts of MOIP and TIP, and the need for dialogues in this regard; 2)
provide practical testimonies from (couples of) policy makers and researchers; 3) initiating and
preparing the group work of the training.
Phase 2: In‐person main training (21‐24 January 2025 in Paris)
The second phase represents the main in‐person training event in Paris. The aim is to understand the
difficulties of the different roles in science‐policy dialogues, to understand institutional barriers, and
to co‐develop a policy pitch through group work. Consequently, the training will be a mixture of two
main activities: 1) Interactive sessions to understand different roles and competences in science‐policy
dialogues; 2) Group work to co‐develop a policy pitch from problem definition to the design of
potential solutions. The groups will consist of four participants (of four (two early career researchers,
and two early career policy makers) and their work will be guided by mentors.
Phase 3: Post‐events (tbd)
The aim of the online post‐events is to constructively discuss this learning exercise. The groups get
more time to further explore the policy pitches they presented during the training, and use the
feedback that they received.
Table 1. specific objectives and structure of the three training phases
| | Phase I: Pre‐event | Phase II: Main event | Phase III: Post‐event |
| Objectives | ‐ Facilitate the group’s initial meeting ‐ Contextualise the training ‐ Familiarise with the group members and their different roles ‐ Define a case study and a problem | ‐ Develop competencies for science‐policy dialogue ‐ Develop and present policy pitch ‐ Understand institutional barriers ‐ Develop networks across science‐policy | ‐ Share learning experiences of the training ‐ Provide feedback on this training experiment |
| Activities | ‐ Introductory plenary session w. icebreakers and problem statement – Keynotes ‐ Testimonies ‐ Mentoring | ‐ Modules w. lectures and exercises ‐ In‐group collaboration ‐ Mentoring ‐ Socializing | ‐ Online feedback sessions |
How to apply
There will be place for 20 participants to the ‘Science‐to‐Policy training’:
- 10 early‐career researchers that are rather advanced in their PhD research (3rd year or higher)
or post‐doctoral researchers and research assistants having obtained the PhD degree in the
past five to eight years. Research topics should be related to Science, Technology and
Innovation Policies. - 10 early‐career professionals in the STI policy arena (minimum 3 years of experience).
If you wish to apply, please send your CV and motivation letter (max 1 page in which you also explain
your link to MOIP and/or TIP) before 20 July 2024 to scipol_training@umr-lisis.fr
Participation for EuSPRI members is free of charge. Participation for non‐EuSPRI participants is €300.
Key dates
- Deadline for application: closed
- Communication of decisions on participation: 31 August 2024
- Registration period: September‐October 2024
- Online pre‐events:
o Session 1: 3 December 2024 – 9h30‐12h30
o Session 2: 10 December 2024 – 12h‐13h30
o Session 3: 17 December 2024 – 12h‐13h30 - Main training event: 21‐24 January 2025
- Post‐events: tbd between February‐June 2025
Link to the event page on the LISIS website.
