In autumn 2024, CASRI took a major step forward in advancing Environmental and Sustainability Research and Innovation (ES R&I) across Europe. Through a series of one-day national workshops held in each of the 14 participating countries and regions in the project, valuable expert guidance has been gathered for the development of the project’s Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA).
These workshops were previously informed by a desk study that identified key challenges and needs related to the four CASRI focus themes - Resilient, net-zero, circular production systems; Biodiversity and Climate; Sustainable urbanisation; Energy transition - promising funding mechanisms, and relevant aspects on Science Policy Practice Interaction (SPPI) and interviews with National Key Stakeholders. Also, recommendations were asked from the attendees towards the CASRI project.
The results of this process, reviewed, synthesized and prioritized at the national level, have been compiled into a report that serves as a cornerstone for future actions under the CASRI initiative (National comprehensive reviews on Environmental and Sustainability Research and Innovation needs, Funding and Science Policy and Practice Interactions - CASRI Deliverable 2.1.)
National Reviews and Stakeholder Involvement activities
The close bottom-up stakeholder engagement from the start is guided by a comprehensive Co-design methodology, giving guidance on the conduction of interviews and workshops in the 14 partner countries: Austria, Basque Country (Spain), Bulgaria, Finland, Flanders (Belgium), France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Montenegro, The Netherlands, Slovakia, Switzerland and Wales (UK). Key Stakeholder Engagement in collaborative discussions from the realms of research and innovation funding, knowledge provision, and knowledge usage are an important basis for CASRI. Therefore, Interviews and workshops aimed to:
- Identifying and prioritizing sustainability challenges addressing the four CASRI core themes but also other crosscutting themes that have been identified as urgent or important across Europe.
- Collecting experiences and insights on how to improve the interaction between science, policy, and practice, with the objective of ensuring that research findings effectively inform policy decisions and societal actions.
- Exploring current and potential regional, national, and transnational research funding instruments to support ES R&I effectively.
- Gathering input on the broader needs to advance ES R&I at all levels, thus contributing to a comprehensive understanding of the challenges and opportunities in this field.
Key Findings of the National Interviews and Workshops
More than 600 expert interviews and 14 national stakeholder workshops sampled and emphasised a multi-faceted approach to conduct current Environmental Sustainability Research and Innovation (ES R&I) and gaps across Europe within the four CASRI focus areas. Experts highlighted across countries the need for a just transition to environmentally friendly energy systems, sustainable digitalization, and a sound relationship of mankind to nature.
These interactions with stakeholders and partners also identified common points for translating research into actionable policies, such as fragmented communication channels, and the need for innovative strategies to bridge gaps. Critical gaps and opportunities in the current funding landscape were also highlighted, along with proposed collaborative approaches aligned with the CASRI SRIA objectives.
A comprehensive overview of the information collected at the national levels, presenting results for each country is included in CASRI report “National comprehensive reviews on Environmental and Sustainability Research and Innovation needs, Funding and Science Policy and Practice Interactions - CASRI Deliverable 2.1” which aggregates and analyses data gathered from all participating countries, offering a comprehensive understanding of the research outcomes. Each country's individual report is incorporated into this final document, maintaining the specificity and relevance of local data. To enhance accessibility and facilitate cross-cultural understanding, an executive summary is included in the local language of each participating country. This inclusive approach ensures that the results of the project are readily available and comprehensible to all CASRI participants, as well as to a wider international audience.
Future Steps on Transnational Commons
The interviews and workshops, national reports and final report, provide a sound basis for the next actions of CASRI. These include the validation of national recommendations, identifying transnational commons for the development of a Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA) and promoting collaborative funding models.
Access the full report for a comprehensive understanding of the findings and national reviews and stay updated to learn more on the specific findings and considerations of the different countries!
CASRI German National Stakeholder Workshop
Group Work during the German National Workshop
Source: @ UBA
Great discussions
Source: @ UBA
Valuabel Expert Knowledge
Experts discuss and note research needs
Source: @ UBA
