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On October 23rd, the JRC hosted an inspiring in-person gathering of the European Community of Practice on EIPM. It was a moment for scientists, policymakers, and knowledge brokers to unite - to share experiences, and reimagine how evidence can shape better decisions for society.

Science-for-policy practitioners from both iterations of the TSI-funded project on Evidence-Informed Policymaking (EIPM 1.0 and EIPM 2.0) came together at the CDMA building to connect, exchange insights, and learn from one another. Together with the repository team, we had the pleasure of presenting the current status of the repository of tools for science for policy practitioners. This repository was inspired by personal and shared struggle to find reliable, practical tools that truly bridge science and policy across Europe, where countries are at different stages of developing their science-for-policy systems. What began as a search for clarity has grown into a collective effort to make knowledge more accessible, meaningful, and actionable for everyone working on EIPM. Together with Elias Kock (JRC) we also ran a dynamic workshop where Community of Practice (CoP) teams brainstormed as many questions as possible - questions they would like to explore within the community, and the context behind them. By the end of the session, each team selected their top two questions, which will now help shape improvements to the Knowledge4Policy website.

During the repository workshop, our mission was simple: to listen. To capture real user experience (UX) stories, real experiences - the kind of insights you can’t find in spreadsheets. The repository may live in Excel today, but what we’re really building is something far bigger - user-friendly tool shaped by its users. Four creative teams stepped up with bold ideas, pushing boundaries and reimagining what the future of this tool could be. 

• Team #1 introduced an interactive visual repository tree that lets users filter or search by their specific “role” or “hat”, such as researcher, knowledge broker, or policymaker, to quickly find the most relevant resources.
• Team #2 proposed an intelligent chatbot or guided assistant to help users explore topics like “how to set up an advisory board” or “what peer review means,” making the repository more intuitive and supportive.
• Team #3 went bold with a gamified repository concept, turning the tool into a playful learning environment that makes policy and knowledge brokering more engaging and interactive.
• Team #4 surprised everyone with a theatre-inspired storytelling performance. Their idea focused on accessibility, inclusivity, and personalization. Their dream repository would adapt to user preferences, offering content in multiple formats: text, audio, video, transcripts, or podcasts to match different learning styles.

In the end, participants voted for the most promising concept, and Team #4 took home the prize - a set of innovative food gifts.

As the repository team, we’d like to extend our heartfelt thanks to the JRC for giving us the opportunity to test the repository with future users and collect such creative input. Our special thanks go to Elias Kock for his excellent facilitation and for inspiring the innovative workshop format that made this session a success. We also extend thanks to the visual team, whose creativity brought each group’s storytelling to life, to all participants for their valuable insights, and to the team members who helped facilitate the workshop. During the workshop, we stepped away from the traditional world café format and experimented with new, more interactive storytelling-hackathon approaches, making the session livelier, more visual, and truly engaging for everyone involved. 

This workshop reminded us that innovation happens when people come together with curiosity, courage, and an open mind. It’s not just about tools or processes. It’s about people. People who dare to ask questions, think differently, and build something that matters. Every idea, whether bold, playful, or practical, brought us closer to a repository that truly empowers those shaping science for policy. But what truly stood out wasn’t the technology or the concepts - it was the energy, the laughter, the shared sense of purpose. You could feel it in the room. And the best part? We’re just getting started.