CASRI is a project financed by the European Union which is based on collaborative actions between Environment Protection Agencies and partners from 14 European countries, along with the European Environment Agency. Built in order to coordinate and enhance research and innovation in the field of systemic, implementable and transversal sustainability it certainly has an enormous potential.
Here is the approach for this collective effort between Environmental Protection Agencies: the co-design methodology defining coherent engagement of stakeholders with the aim to develop and implement a common Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda. It was defined during the project proposal stage by all partners and then further developed by Katja Firus from T6 Ecosystems and Stephan Bartke from the German Federal Environment Agency (UBA) with contributions of project partners Sara Dorato (T6 Ecosystems), Marie-Cristine Dictor (French Geological Survey), Kaisa Korhonen-Kurki (Finnish Environment Institute) and Linda Maring and Bart Rijken (Deltares).
Although it presents points of divergence, this methodology draws some inspiration from another EU Horizon project, funded in 2020: INSPIRATION, which has already developed a Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA) for land use, land-use changes and soil management in a co-design process.
Based on a funnelling approach to gather information on research needs and opportunities, this co-design methodology is the basis of a targeted and consistent stakeholder involvement through all phases of the CASRI project in order to develop a SRIA that correlates with the European Environmental Protection Agencies. This specific methodology, developed at the on-set of the stakeholder engagement, provides a useful and thus flexible orientation tool to provide a common understanding of the ideal project implementation for both Environment Protection Agencies and generally all CASRI partners with a links to SRIA development.
How stakeholders are involved throughout the project
CASRI's co-design process is divided into several key phases that systematically collect and analyze data to develop a comprehensive and actionable SRIA. The primary aim of these phases is to gather insights from multiple countries, sectors, and stakeholders, and to develop a shared agenda that will guide future sustainability research and innovation.
1. National Reviews and Stakeholder Involvement
The first step in the co-design process - January 2024-February 2025 - has focused on gathering data on environmental research needs in each participating country. The National Contacts, typically representatives from national Environmental Protection Agencies or ministries, led this effort. By conducting desk studies and interviews with stakeholders in their respective countries, they synthesised findings from these activities in a national report for each participating country.
National Key Stakeholders, who were selected from various sectors such as research funders, knowledge providers, and knowledge users, were deeply involved in this process. They contributed their expertise and insights through participating in the interviews and the respective national workshop that aimed to identify common themes and priority areas for research and innovation. The workshops served as a platform for stakeholders to discuss findings from the interviews and share their perspectives and build consensus around the most pressing environmental issues and potential solutions.
2. Identifying Transnational Commons
After the national reviews are completed, the project shifts its focus to identifying transnational commons. This project phase aims to consolidate the findings from the various countries and ensures that the identified common themes reflect the perspectives and priorities of all stakeholders. By examining the data across borders, the goal is to provide a coherent and useful basis for the matching between topics and funding opportunities.
CASRI’s Theme Leaders, who are experts in key areas such as resilient circular production systems, biodiversity and climate, and sustainable urbanization, play a critical role in this phase. They guide the analysis of national data and work closely with selected National Key Stakeholders from all participating countries to verify the relevance and feasibility of the identified topics. A co-creation workshop is organized to review and prioritize the identified transnational themes and to evaluate their societal impact.
3. Matching Topics with Funding Opportunities
The third phase of the co-design methodology, focused on matching topics and funding opportunities in order to produce a comprehensive and prioritised Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda, is planned from May 2025 to April 2026. This phase will prioritize transnational Environment and Sustainability Research and Innovation topics, identifying urgent, medium, and long-term priorities. A one-day workshop will review national and European Research and Innovation objectives, assess gaps, and convert recommendations into actionable steps to address these gaps. The participating selected National Key Stakeholders, particularly funders, will discuss the implementation of the agenda.
Once it is developed, efforts will focus on aligning it with existing funding opportunities at various levels, from regional to international. National reviews will be analysed to identify relevant institutions, programs, and funding tools. The draft mapping report will be reviewed: if gaps are found, further interviews with stakeholders will help refine the analysis. The final step involves organizing meetings with funders and policymakers to address funding gaps and develop the Implementation Plan.
4. Developing an Implementation Plan
The final phase of the methodology from May 2025 to August 2026 is crucial for translating the Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda into concrete actions. The planned implementation plan will offer various collaborative opportunities, such as co-funded or aligned research calls, knowledge transfer programs, practitioner mobility schemes, capacity building, and access to research infrastructures. These initiatives will drive collaboration and innovation.
To ensure the long-term success of the agenda, a Memorandum of Understanding for multi-annual calls over the next three years will be developed. This document will outline procedures for implementing these calls, emphasizing areas of mutual interest for co-funding Environment Protection Agencies and other potential funders.
A key objective of the implementation plan is to create a sustainable framework for ongoing cooperation between Environment Protection Agencies beyond the project's conclusion. The plan will institutionalize the role of the Agencies' Interest Group on Sustainability Research and Solutions. The co-design process will begin by reviewing the Group's purpose and structure, then progress to partnership building and strategy development, culminating in a collaborative workshop to shape future activities beyond 2026..
Shaping a Shared Future
In summary, CASRI’s co-design methodology offers a structured yet flexible approach to ensure meaningful stakeholder engagement throughout its phases. By aligning national and transnational research needs with realistic funding opportunities, the project aims to deliver a robust Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda, fostering sustainable collaboration among European Environmental Protection Agencies for long-term impact
Please have a look at the full report.
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