In complex times, democratic government and scientific knowledge become ever more important

Scientific knowledge contributes to addressing societal needs – in particular in moments of complexity and adversity. Science, based on the rigorous analysis of empirical data and the testing of competing explanatory theories, offers a source of robust knowledge of the world corroborated through peer review processes that cannot be produced elsewhere. At the same time, in crisis situations citizens turn to governments whose substantial resources and collective decision-making processes can provide response adequate to the challenges.

Contemporary societies are facing numerous challenges, from global pandemics and geopolitical turbulences to the climate crisis. These are often described as “wicked problems” because they are complex (hard to establish cause and effect), uncertain (absence/lack of data/knowledge), and ambiguous (different interpretations of a problem are credible/legitimate). Let’s recall the COVID-19 response where the understanding of the virus constantly evolved, and trade-offs had to be made between economic livelihoods and public health.

It is in this context of “wicked problems” that a discussion on how to bring together the scientific and policymaking communities is needed to ensure that the challenges today’s society face can be effectively addressed.

Commission publishes a Staff Working Document to promote a debate on how to better connect science and policymaking

On October 26th 2022, the European Commission launched the Staff-Working Document “Supporting and Connecting Policymaking in the Member States with Scientific Research”. This document aims to inform and discuss how Member States can make better use of scientific research and knowledge to inform their policymaking. Specifically, this document identifies: 

• the rationale behind building capacity of science-for-policy ecosystems 
• the challenges encountered at the science and policy interface 
• good practice at both the EU and Member States level, along with a range of EU instruments/policies in support of Member State's capacity building in the field of science for policy 

Launch event to set off a debate on Science for Policy in Europe

The goal of the online launch event was to raise awareness not only towards the document itself but also the ways that science and policymaking can be better connected. This was the culmination of a long-standing cooperation between multiple Directorates-General, namely Research & Innovation (RTD), Joint Research Center (JRC) and Structural Reform Support (REFORM), forming a bridge between the scientific community (JRC, RTD) and the public administration and policymaking community (REFORM).

Two panel discussions offered opportunities for exchange and discussion regarding the purpose and content of this document but also the future of better-integrated ecosystems of science for policy within the European Union.

EU perspectives on Science for Policy in Europe

The first panel session kicked off with the perspectives from the European Commission, with the JRC’s Director-General (DG) Stephen Quest, RTD’s Deputy-Director General (DDG) Joanna Drake, and REFORM’s DG Mario Nava. 

DG Quest highlighted that “Policymaking in Europe doesn’t only happen in Brussels, and that therefore good science and good research practices are needed across the Member States to implement effective policies”. Furthermore, this document also seeks to “inspire even more vibrant dialogues across Member States” and ensure that “we build denser cooperative networks across the EU.” DDG Drake followed up by pointing out that “from the RTD perspective, we see the Staff Working Document as an orientation point in order for our policy dialogues with Member States to be taken forward in the context of the new European Research Area.”  

One point that was commonly agreed between all parties was that continued cooperation and dialogue between policy and research areas is key to the development of a sustainable long-term ecosystem. As DG Nava mentioned, the main objective is “a strong commitment to cooperate together – there are multiple initiatives to do so at the European Level.” 

It is important to note that this document does not identify one unique path to successfully building a science-for-policy ecosystem; as DG Quest put it “there is no single blueprint, as there is a diversity of institutions and administrations". As such, the priority is to identify the main characteristics that such an ecosystem needs to have. Indeed “guarantees of scientific excellence and of independence, ensure high levels of public trust. There should be boundary conditions that need to be respected and need to be transparent.”  

Member State perspectives on Science for Policy in Europe

The second roundtable revolved around the perspectives of Member States with Ales BELOHRADSKY, Chief Scientific Adviser of the Czech Ministry of Science, Research & Innovation and Representative of the Czech Council Presidency; Enric BANDA, President of the Spanish Advisory Council on Science, Technology and Innovation and representative of the European Science Advisors Forum (ESAF); Maria Madalena DOS SANTOS ALVES, President of the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT); and Corien PRINS, Chair of the Netherlands Scientific Council for Government Policy. 

All four panelists concurred that the document was timely and much needed and shared their views on the development of an effective Science-for-policy ecosystem not just at the European level, but also at the national level. Enric Banda declared that the “Staff -Working Document recognises the efforts of ESAF, and both are committed to walking into the same direction of better connecting and strengthening science-for-policy ecosystems in Europe”. He also highlighted that connecting ecosystems is needed for European countries to make significant progress within both the research and policymaking fields: “Europe has an R&I system that is ready to compete globally, but it is a must to get Member States to work together to compete at the highest level”.

Corien Prins declared that we should aim to strike “a proper balance between having the best academic research from the European perspective but also academic knowledge that is purely national and adaptable to national policy problems and their solution”. This combination of European and national resources is crucial for each country to develop “solid national scientific advice mechanisms”. 

The overall sentiment is that there is still a long way to go, and challenges remain. Indeed, Ales Beloradsky mentioned that there are “two major obstacles (to the successful implementation of better integrated science-for-policy ecosystems in Europe): first, it requires a fundamental shift in mind of both state employees and research scientists; while the second obstacle is related to data management”. Fundamentally, to ensure a long-lasting sustainable ecosystem, “it may not be enough to just call on Member States (to contribute to the development of a science for policy ecosystem) as long as there is an absence of effective monitoring mechanisms that highlight weaknesses in evidence-informed policy-making”.

As Madalena dos Santos Alves said, “to enhance dialogue, institutional trust and transparency should be improved”. The conversation has started both at European and national levels, and cooperation between the Commission and Member States will be key to ensure that this dialogue translates into concrete and effective policies. 

This event and the document are just the beginning in the debate…

This event made clear that the Staff Working Document is only the first step in strengthening the cooperation between research and policymaking communities.

Indeed, this conversation will continue in the policy debate “Science as an instrument to facilitate policymaking in the Member States” on December 2nd 2022 at the “Competitiveness” Council under the Czech Presidency and will likely continue during the Conference in October 2023 under the Spanish Council Presidency.

For more insights into the Staff Working Document, please click here. 

To watch the full event, click here.