Bridging the gap between science and policy

Researchers and policymakers have a new platform for engagement on how to balance sustainable consumption and economic growth in Europe.

A series of events and an innovative internet platform will help to bridge some of the gaps between science and policy as part of the EU-supported Responder project. Five focus areas have been chosen for the project: housing, energy, finance, mobility and food.

The consortium is a highly diverse team including ministries, universities and independent research organisations. It is supported by a steering group consisting of members of parliament, businesses, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and the OECD. They are using existing research to inform dialogues and interactions that form the basis of this new approach to knowledge brokerage.

The most tangible outcome of the project is an online platform where stakeholders can exchange information on facts, trends, policies and experiences. This would encourage mutual understanding of contradictions, conflicts, interests and trade-offs, and could even prompt new research questions.

The benefit to policymakers is easy access to research findings, while researchers will gain insights into the rationalisation behind policy decisions.

More details can be found at the following link: http://cordis.europa.eu/fetch?CALLER=OFFR_TM_EN&ACTION=D&RCN=10936