We invite researchers and scholars to submit their papers to the Eu-SPRI Early Career Researcher Conference (ECC) 2024 on the theme of “Sustainability in Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) policy: between complexity and uncertainty”. The conference will take place in Rome from 6th to 8th March 2024, organized by the CNR-IRCrES – Research Institute on Sustainable Economic Growth of the National Research Council of Italy.
Conference Theme:
The Eu-SPRI ECC 2024 aims to explore the dynamic relationship between sustainability, science, technology, and innovation policies in driving long-term sustainable development and equitable growth. It seeks to address the complexities and uncertainties surrounding STI policy and investigate the potential connections between these policies and the achievement of long-term goals.
Conference Topics:
Organizational Perspective on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Science-Policy interface for achieving the SDGs
STI scenarios under complexity and uncertainty
Science and technology responses for green recovery
Regional systems of innovation
Knowledge and innovation networks
Target Audience:
The ECC Conference primarily aims to engage early career researchers and PhD students working in the fields of Research Policy and Innovation studies. However, contributions from experienced researchers and scholars in related disciplines are also welcome.
Important Dates:
Abstract submission: 15th October 2023
Notification of Acceptance: 15th November 2023
Full Paper Submission Deadline: 15th December 2023
Submission Guidelines:
We invite researchers, early career scholars, and PhD students to submit abstracts (500-1000 words) of their original research papers. The submissions should provide clear insights into the research problem, methodology, results, and implications for STI policy and sustainability. All submissions must be in English and must be sent to eccrome@ircres.cnr.it
Conference fee:
The attendance fee to be paid by NON Eu-SPRI member organizations is 300 EUR. It includes admission to all scientific sessions, coffee breaks, and lunches, as well as one social dinner. Accepted participants are required to pay the fee following their notification of acceptance.
Participants from EU-SPRI member organizations have their fees waived, which covers registration, meals, and accommodation (max 2 nights). Travel costs are not covered.
According to the established cancellation policy, no refund of payments will be issued.
Join us at the Eu-SPRI ECC 2024 in Rome to share your research, engage in fruitful discussions, and contribute to advancing knowledge and understanding of STI policy and sustainability.
We look forward to receiving your submissions and welcoming you in Rome from 6th to 8th March 2024!
This blog originally appeared on SPRU’s website and has been reproduced with the permission of the authors.
On Wednesday 14 – Friday 16 June 2023, the Science Policy Research Unit (SPRU) based at the University of Sussex Business School, proudly hosted the European Forum for Studies of Policies for Research and Innovation Conference (Eu-SPRI 2023). Eu-SPRI’s annual conference is the European event for scholars and policymakers in the fields of science, technology, and innovation (STI) policy, providing a dynamic platform for exchanging ideas, presenting emerging research, and fostering valuable networks.
Supporting the development of early career researchers in this field is a key part of the Eu-SPRI Forum’s work. Prior to the conference on Tuesday 13 June, SPRU hosted the Eu-SPRI Early Career Researcher event in association with the 29th SPRU PhD Forum. Welcoming participants from a diverse range of institutions, this event provided a supportive space for early career researchers to present and discuss their work, hear talks from guest speakers and network in a friendly environment, before continuing to the main conference.
Research with Impact
The conference’s first day began with an opening ceremony chaired by Michael Hopkins, the Chair of the conference’s organising committee, with welcome addresses by SPRU’s director, Jeremy Hall and Eu-SPRI’s president, Emanuela Reale.
The theme of this year’s conference, ‘Research with Impact’, reflects the increasing focus within STI policy globally on ensuring that researchers engage with wider stakeholders to deliver positive economic impact and address societal challenges. This reflects the growing societal expectations placed on research and innovation, and increased concerns about how well research systems are aligned with the changing needs of society. Demand for research with impact has generated changes in how research is funded, evaluated, organised and disseminated. Eu-SPRI 2023 was a platform for the exploration of these questions amongst international colleagues.
The conference featured 25 Tracks and five Special Sessions organised by scholars in the field, capturing the latest developments in a broad range of science policy related areas. Participants discussed topics such as transformative innovation, sustainability transitions, policy implications and transdisciplinary research.
The first day of the conference featured a captivating keynote speech by Professor Kathryn Oliver from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, University of London, entitled ‘Feet on the ground and head in the clouds: can we be both pragmatic and ambitious for research with impact?’.
Members of the Eu-SPRI Stakeholder Advisory Board: Philippe Larrue, Christian Naczinsky, and Tatiana Fernandez Sirera, with the participation of Emanuela Reale and Stephanie Daimer, hosted a keynote panel on Day Two, exploring how to promote dialogue with policymakers for the design and implementation of science and innovation policies. The panel, sponsored by RISIS, incorporated open debate and examined the emerging needs and forthcoming actions in this area.
The third and final day of the conference saw an engaging keynote debate addressing the motion that ‘The growing use of evaluation and analysis of impact has gone too far so that it is now damaging research’. The debate speakers were Ben Martin, Professor of Science & Technology Policy Studies at SPRU, and Leonie van Drooge, Owner of LvD Impact & Evaluation, with the debate chaired by Paul Nightingale, SPRU.
In addition to the varied academic programme, an exciting selection of social activities were available to attendees, adding a touch of excitement and relaxation to the event. On the first day, participants could take flight on the iconic Brighton i360, a breath-taking observation tower offering panoramic views above Brighton seafront, featuring a sky bar. The Brighton i360 social was kindly sponsored by the Technopolis Group. Alternatively, guests could enjoy drinks and nibbles at the Ohso Social Bar, a popular beach bar within the heart of Brighton’s vibrant atmosphere, kindly sponsored by RISIS.
Day Two saw delegates attend a Gala dinner at the DoubleTree Hilton Metropole, for a memorable evening of mingling and discussion. The conference’s final day closed with farewell drinks at the Grand Central pub in the city centre, featuring live music that had the audience on their feet, singing along.
Hosting the Eu-SPRI 2023 Conference was an honour for SPRU and the Business School. It was fantastic to welcome so many colleagues to our campus for the largest Eu-SPRI conference yet, and we hope that all participants enjoyed their experience with us!
We would also like to express our gratitude once again to our sponsors for their generous support and contribution to the #EuSPRI23 Conference – our sincere thanks to RISIS, Technopolis Group, Edward Elgar Publishing, and Policy@Sussex.
The Eu-SPRI 2024 Conference will be hosted by the University of Twente in the Netherlands with the theme ‘Governing Technology, Research, and Innovation for Better Worlds’. We look forward to another inspiring gathering of the Eu-SPRI community.
Call for proposals for Doctoral Researchers and Early Career Researchers
Next deadline: 11th November 2023
The circulation of Early Career and PhD Researchers between the member organisations, is an important element of the training activities of the Eu-SPRI Forum network. It is part of the development of the European Training Platform, which the Eu-SPRI Forum aims to develop in the area of science and innovation policy studies. It addresses our objective of offering a European pathway to Early Career and PhD researchers in this field.
Member organisations are:
Université Paris-Est, Institut Francilien Recherche Innovation Société (IFRIS)
Copenhagen Business School (CBS)
Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas (CSIC), Spain
Consiglio Nazionale delle Richerche (CNR), IRCRES Research Institute on Sustainable Economic Growth, Rome
Politecnico di Milano
AIT Austrian Institute of Technology
CIRCLE, Lund University, Sweden
University of Manchester, Institute of Innovation Research
Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research, Karlsruhe, Germany
NIFU, Norway
University of Twente, Institute of Innovation and Governance Studies (IGS)
VTT, in collaboration with Helsinki Institute of Science and Technology Studies (HIST)
UiO, Centre for Technology, Innovation and Culture, University of Oslo
SPRU, Science Policy Research Unit, University of Sussex
Innovation Studies, Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development , Universiteit Utrecht
TNO, Netherlands Organisation of Applied Scientific Research
TUD, Sozialforschungsstelle Dortmund, ZWE der TU-Dortmund
Rathenau Institute — KNAW
This call is open to Doctoral Researchers, in member organisations, in their second year of PhD thesis or beyond and Early Career Researchers, in member organisations, who have completed their PhD within the past 36 months.
Topic Areas supported
This mobility call is restricted to research topics relating to science, technology and innovation policy including studies of science, technological innovation processes and entrepreneurship which may have relevance for policy.
Candidates can decide to apply for a short mobility call (up to one month visiting) or a regular mobility call (at least 3 months of visiting).
How to apply
You must first discuss your proposed short term or regular visit with a potential supervisor at your chosen host institution. Both the ‘Home’ institute and ‘Host’ institute must be members of the Eu-SPRI Forum Network. You must confirm that they are prepared to accept you if your proposal is selected.
(This does not need to be signed by all parties at application stage)
A Curriculum Vitae
Letter / email of support from Host Supervisor
Letter / email of support from Home Supervisor
1 other academic reference
Your application will be evaluated by a committee from the Eu-SPRI Forum Training Group. You will be informed of the outcome when a decision has been made (within 1 month).
Application guidelines
The proposed location should be in a different “national system” so that the researcher experiences a different institutional environment. An application to move, for example, within the Netherlands would not be accepted.
Length of circulation visit should be at least 3 months for regular circulation and up to 1 month for short-term circulation. The three months can be split into tranches.
In the Letter of Intent, be as specific as possible about what you intend to do at your host institute. Detail why you wish to visit that particular institute; how it will contribute to your research; what you hope to achieve.
Prepare your proposal thoroughly, look at the criteria for selection and make a good case. The awards are competitive and you need to present yourself well. Have a specific objective for the stay. This could be to work on an area of theory with experts or to undertake fieldwork in a different country, for example. Think about the potential benefits which may arise in the longer term. Make sure you put in sufficient material to convince the reviewers. If you apply for a short-term circulation you have to clearly explain why such a short-term visiting is sufficient to reach the research objective of the stay.
Ensure that the place you want to visit is a good match for you and your work and make sure that the researcher(s) you want to work with will actually be there and are willing to host you. Making preliminary enquiries about practical arrangements is also a good idea. However, if someone at another institution has agreed in principle to accept you, your proposal may still be subject to a request for further revision or rejected.
Ask someone (perhaps your supervisor) to review your proposal before you submit it.
Your research must be relevant to the Eu-SPRI Forum Network. For more information see the website.
Both the ‘PhD Home’ institute and ‘Host’ institute must be members of the Eu-SPRI Forum Network. Therefore, you may only apply to institutes that are ‘Early Career/PhD Hosts’ within Eu-SPRI Forum Network. Full members are listed on the website.
The criteria for evaluating proposals are:
Quality of the candidate
Quality of the ECR/PhD project
Relevance of the project to Eu-SPRI
Expected benefits of stay for host institution
Expected benefits of stay for research career and/or PhD studies
Balance of student flows (only for regular circulation)
Further details
Eu-SPRI will award a lump sum of €2,500 per regular visit candidate (for travel expenses and accommodation) and up to €1,200 for short-term candidates. This will be paid once the awardee is in situ at the host organisation.
If your application is successful, the letter of Intent must then be signed by all parties who must agree to the terms outlined in it.
On completion of the circulation you must provide a Circulation Report to the Eu-SPRI network which may be placed on the website. This is a mandatory requirement.
Alliance Manchester Business School, University of Manchester, United Kingdom
This Early Career Research Training School will address the development and use of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies in the context of Science, Technology, and Innovation Policy.
About the AI4STIP Winter School
The AI for Science, Technology, and Innovation Policy (AI4STIP) Winter School will consider the implications of rapidly emerging AI technologies for science, technology, and innovation (STI) management and policy. Analyses and assessments of the rise of AI technologies in science, industry and society will be combined with training to improve technical understanding of AI methods that can be applied to STI policy topics (including participants’ projects and research themes) while also considering ethical and responsible research and innovation approaches.
While broadly addressing a range of AI technologies, there will be a particular focus in the course on understanding, gaining hands-on experience with, and considering the policy implications of generative AI and large language models (LLMs), which represent the latest, most capable, and (to date) most contentious of currently available AI approaches.
Learning Objectives
The school is targeted to doctoral researchers and early career researchers (ECRs) who have research and policy interests in how AI intersects with science, technology, and innovation policy.
The learning objectives of the school are to provide participants with:
Improved comprehension of AI’s development and prospects, how AI is framed and shaped as an emerging technology in society, and the opportunities and risks currently presented by AI.
Enhanced understandings of debates about AI and interrelated ethics, societal, and STI policy aspects and of theoretical perspectives and approaches to the analysis of AI4STIP.
Critical understandings of how LLMs and other leading-edge AI systems are built and operated, and training in new methodological skills on how AI methods can be used in research with attention to ethics and responsible research and innovation.
Engagement with the challenges of developing ethical and responsible AI for STI and consideration of current and proposed AI regulatory and policy responses.
Interactions with leading scholars and practitioners in the field and mentorship to help participants advance their own research projects.
Opportunities to work in small groups to deliver an AI-informed piece of policy analysis.
Format and Content
The AI4STIP Winter School will be structured with a mix of short lectures, case presentations, discussion, and hands-on exercises, comprising:
AI and ethics, society, and policy: Introduction to understanding what AI is, how it has developed, and who is developing AI. Discussion of issues of ethics, risk, bias, data security and other societal concerns associated with AI, and of guidelines and frameworks to address AI risk and responsible research and innovation. Discussion of the rise of generative AI/LLMs and how these models present both opportunities and risks. Consideration of how AI is being applied in the domains of science (scientific research), in industry (AI manufacturing), and in civil society (e.g., automated vehicles; facial recognition). Discussion of different national developmental and regulatory frameworks. Consideration of how AI can responsibly be used in STI research and policy analysis.
AI methods and labs: In method-themed sessions, participants will learn about ethical and responsible AI use, data protection, and AI oriented solutions and their integration into research. Signposting will be provided on available AI models, especially open-source models that are available with no or minimal cost. Participants will gain hands-on experience in data retrieval, structuring, and applying Generative AI and LLMs in research contexts. They will also be introduced to the use of APIs, effective prompt writing, the role of text mining and machine learning techniques, and how to evaluate the performance, validity, and reliability of AI models. In lab sessions, participants will actively apply their AI methodological knowledge, practice interpreting the results generated by their AI models, and learn essential skills to identify and fix errors.
Group project: In the group project segment, participants will have the opportunity to put their acquired knowledge into practice. They will work in teams to apply the learned methods and implementation strategies on a selected topic related to science, innovation, and policy.
Individual presentations: Each participant will also concisely present their individual research, highlighting potential applications, benefits, and risks of AI. There will be opportunities for Q&A. Feedback will be provided by workshop faculty.
Integrative and policy activities: The workshop location in Manchester presents excellent opportunities to engage with researchers at the leading edge of AI development, to explore the rich legacy of the city in computing and AI development, and to engage in policy discussion.
Faculty and Winter School Organisers
Philip Shapira, Manchester Institute of Innovation Research, University of Manchester; School of Public Policy, Georgia Institute of Technology
Arash Hajikhani, VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland
Barbara Ribeiro, SKEMA Business School and Manchester Institute of Innovation Research
Justin Biddle, ETHICx, School of Public Policy, Georgia Institute of Technology
Cornelia Lawson, Manchester Institute of Innovation Research, University of Manchester
Carolyn Cole, VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland
Additional keynote speakers will be invited.
Advisory Group
An advisory group has been established to provide further input into the programme. Members of the advisory group include Cassidy Sugimoto, Georgia Institute of Technology; Catherine Beaudry, Polytechnique Montreal; José Antônio Puppim de Oliveira, FGV, Brazil; and Alistair Nolan, OECD.
Sponsors
AI4STIP has received sponsorship from the European Forum for Studies of Policies for Research and Innovation (Eu-SPRI Forum). Additional support is provided by the Manchester Institute of Innovation Research, the Alliance Manchester Business School, the VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, ETHICx and the School of Public Policy at Georgia Institute of Technology, the Partnership for the Organisation of Innovation and New Technologies (4POINT0) at the Polytechnique Montréal, and the SKEMA Centre for AI (SCAI) at the SKEMA Business School.
Eligibility and Selection of Participants
The AI4STIP Winter School welcomes applications from doctoral students and ECRs engaged in science, technology, and innovation policy research and who also have interests in learning about and responsibly applying AI methods to their own STI research. We also welcome applications from those who are undertaking research on AI from within or outside the social sciences and policy is a key dimension of interest.
Doctoral candidates should be registered as students in a recognised doctoral programme.
ECRs should not be more than 3 years from award of their PhD. (Use 1 July 2020 as the reference date. An extension of eligibility can be requested.)
The Winter School seeks to engage with and bridge transatlantic debates and approaches to AI for STI ethics, societal concerns, and policies in Europe and the Americas. It is anticipated that the Winter School will involve a mix of participants from the UK/Europe, the Americas, and elsewhere.
Up to 30 participants will be invited to the Winter School, following faculty and advisory group review of applications. Early application is advised. It is likely that we will not be able to accommodate all applicants.
Prior computer science, coding, or AI programming experience is not required. We do seek to recruit participants who are actively pursuing research topics that are within or related to AI4STIP and who have an interest in learning how to develop and responsibly apply AI methods, including LLMs, to their research.
Timing, Fees, and Logistics
The Winter School will be held at the Alliance Manchester Business School, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom, from 8:45 a.m. on Monday, 13 November 2023 through to 4 p.m. on Friday, 17 November 2023. Some evenings will be scheduled for talks.
Participants (particularly those from outside of Greater Manchester) should plan to arrive on Sunday, 12 November and stay for either 5 or 6 nights, depending on whether they can depart on Friday evening after the Winter School closes or on Saturday, 18 November.
For participants selected from EU-SPRI member institutions there is no programme fee. Main meals and (if not already Manchester-based) hotel lodging (up to 6 nights) during the Winter School will be provided without additional Eu-SPRI participant cost. A list of EU-SPRI member institutions is available here: https://euspri-forum.eu/member-organisations/
For participants selected from other (non-EU-SPRI) institutions, there is a programme fee of £450 (GBP) which will also include main meals and hotel lodging (up to 6 nights) during the Winter School.
The Winter School is unable to support travel costs to reach Manchester. Travel costs for EU-SPRI participants may be covered by their home institutions. We anticipate that our international partners will assist in sourcing funding to support non-EU SPRI participation in covering travel and programme fee costs. In certain cases, international partners may provide scholarships to cover travel and hotel costs in lieu of the programme fee, with the Winter School providing meals.
The language of instruction will be English.
Particular attention will be given to ensuring equity, diversity, and inclusiveness in participant recruitment and selection. The Winter School welcomes applications irrespective of nationality or country of origin.
Many non-UK/EU applicants will not need a visa to enter the UK to participate in the Winter School. However, if in any doubt, please check https://www.gov.uk/check-uk-visa to ascertain your status (academic visit, less than 6 months).
How to apply
Applicants are asked to submit
A one page application cover letter which indicates (a) your interest in participating in the Winter School and how it relates to your research and career development, and (b) the use case(s) you envisage for AI in the context of your STI-related research. The letter should also indicate (c) if the applicant is (or is not) associated with a named EU-SPRI institution; (d) the city and country where you currently reside and where you would travel from; and (e) whether you will/will not need a visa to enter the UK. If you request an extension of ECR eligibility, please (f) provide a brief explanation.
An academic CV. Please ensure that this CV includes your university or work email address.
The initial closing date for applications is 1 September 2023, with a subsequent additional application date if required. Early application is advised, as we anticipate a high demand for places, and we also may make early admission offers. Additional details about the course and logistics will be provided to accepted applicants.
Between February 8 and 10, INGENIO hosted the 7th edition of its Eu-SPRI Early Career Conference, this time entitled “Addressing old and new social challenges: knowledge, policies, inclusion”. The event, which is organized entirely by PhD students for PhD students, gathered more than 60 early career researchers from 30 different academic institutions. Particularly strong representation was recorded from the host institution, but also Gran Sasso Science Institute and Politecnico di Milano in Italy. Over the span of three days, the participants had the chance to present their work in a friendly and welcoming environment, receive constructive feedback from senior researchers and briefly step into the shoes of reviewers by discussing each others’ written abstracts. Thematically, the 22 parallel sessions encompassed a wide range of issues – from sustainability transitions and green technologies to feminist organizational change, ethics, and gender-lens investing.
“I think this conference was very informative and heartwarming” – shared An Yu (University of Manchester) – “which is really fitting for early-career PhD students like myself. I’ve been encouraged by this experience and have more faith in my academic career.”
A notable highlight in the opening day of the conference was the keynote address of Professor Elisa Giuliani from the University of Pisa, whose research on the dark side of innovation captivated the attention of the young scholars and elicited a stimulating discussion on the need to prioritize early detection of harmful substances and company practices, before they reach the market. On the following day, Professor Lars Coenen from the Western Norway University of Applied Sciences delivered the second keynote address of the event, which highlighted both the opportunities and the challenges of implementing missions, transformations and experimentalist policy approaches on the ground.
“I would like to thank you again for the wonderful work that you did in organising such a vibrant conference. I loved being part of it and I think it was one of the best conferences I have attended so far.” – Knarik Poghosyan, TU-Dortmund
In addition, the program featured two highly interactive 1.5-hour workshops. The first one, structured as a round table with two panelists – Elisa Giuliani and Francesco Rentocchini – tackled the intricacies of the publishing process, and provided a safe space for students to ask what they’ve always wanted to know: what makes a good manuscript; what issues are important to editors; how to navigate the uncertainty, ethical questions, and more. In the second workshop, Elisabetta Marinelli, a Principal Consultant from Technopolis Group, started off assessing the expectations of the students in the room in real time before debunking some of the most common misconceptions about working in academia, policy-making or the intersection between the two.
The rigorous discussions indoors were accompanied by informal socializing during the coffee breaks on INGENIO´s (mostly) sunny terrace. The Gala Dinner, hosted in a traditional Valencian restaurant, also offered ample opportunities for networking between PhD students, senior researchers and external guest speakers. All in all, this year’s edition of the PhDays continued a strong tradition of successful and widely popular Eu-SPRI Early Career Conferences at INGENIO.
The 2023 Eu-SPRI Annual Conference will be hosted by the Science Policy Research Unit (SPRU) at the University of Sussex Business School in Brighton, UK.
The main conference will take place on 14th – 16th June with a preceding Early Career Event on 13th June.
Important Dates
The deadline for abstract submissions has now passed.
Notification of decisions will be shared with authors by Monday 27th February 2023, 23:59 GMT.
Authors of accepted submissions will then be asked to upload their final full paper/poster/extended abstract, in order to be entered into the conference programme.
Deadline for final submissions is Friday 5th May 2023, 23:59 GMT.
Conference registration opens on Monday 27th February 2023.
Conference registration closes on Thursday 1st June 2023. The presenting author for each submission will need to have registered for the conference by Monday 22 May 2023, 23:59 GMT.
The conference will be held from Wednesday 14th June to Friday 16th June 2023.
Authors are invited to submit an abstract by the January deadline, which will then be peer-reviewed. If this is accepted, authors are then required to submit a full paper/poster/extended abstract by the 5th of May deadline.
