More than 75 participants from 7 Member States and the European Commission convened at the Joint Research Centre headquarters in Brussels on Wednesday, 22 October, for the kick-off event of the Technical Support Instrument project, Evidence-Informed Policymaking for the Twin Transition. The event marked the official launch of EIPM 2.0, following the successful completion of the initiative's first iteration just several months earlier. During the first round of the project, the JRC supported seven Member States (Greece, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and the Netherlands) in strengthening their capacity for evidence-informed policymaking (EIPM). Building on this experience, EIPM 2.0 will extend the initiative to seven additional Member States (Spain, Austria, Cyprus, France, Ireland, Poland, and Portugal) with the aim of further developing institutional capacity and fostering a culture of evidence use in governance and public administration across the European Union. 

The day opened with Jolita Butkevičienė, Director for Innovation in Science and Policymaking at the JRC, who shared lessons from the first iteration of the project, drawing on her recent visit to Lithuania. She highlighted the growing recognition of the importance of evidence in decision-making and the democratic value of embedding evidence in policymaking. Ms. Butkevičienė emphasised that strengthening capacity for evidence-informed governance is not merely a technical exercise but a cornerstone of democratic resilience and public trust in democratic institutions. She praised the seven participating Member States for actively seeking solutions, acknowledging the diversity of approaches and the project’s evolution to its second iteration making use of previously learned lessons. Framing the program as a complex and ongoing process, she marked the event as the “birthday” of its second phase, celebrating seven Member States ready to critically assess themselves and strive for improvement. 

Judit Rózsa, Director at SG REFORM, expressed her appreciation for the collaboration between the Joint Research Centre and Member States, noting the project’s valuable role in strengthening the link between evidence and policy. She underlined the growing challenge of policymaking in an era of populism, where partisan attitudes often outweigh scientific reasoning, and called for decisions to be firmly grounded in evidence. Referring to Denmark’s experience with evidence-informed climate policies, she highlighted the “EIPM 2.0” platform as an important step forward, enabling Member States to exchange ideas and jointly advance evidence-informed policymaking across Europe. 

Balancing science, politics and public trust 

The first roundtable of the event was moderated by Jolita Butkevičienė, who opened the panel by discussing the crucial role of EIPM in strengthening democracy and public trust. Speakers reflected on how to set a functional evidence-informed policy system, that is also transparent and understandable for citizens. “Science is the backbone of our future,” Ms. Butkevičienė noted, introducing the topic of the panel. Juan Cruz Cigudosa, Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Universities of Spain, presented Spain’s experience in embedding science across government structures, noting that scientific advisors now operate in every ministry. He stressed that political decisions should be developed hand in hand with scientists, making evidence as essential as economic considerations. Andrzej Szeptycki, Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of Poland, underlined the value of integrating scientists directly into policymaking roles and promoting initiatives that combat misinformation through evidence-based dialogue. Contributions from Ursula Rosenbichler, Director of the Austrian School of Government, and Eleni Stylianopoulou from the Presidency of the Republic of Cyprus, underscored that trust begins with institutional commitment to EIPM. Ms. Rosenbichler emphasized Austria’s experience in aligning science with performance management reforms, while Ms. Stylianopoulou described Cyprus’s upcoming efforts to make EIPM a foundational pillar of governance, bringing together ministries and academia to foster systematic cooperation and citizen engagement. 

Bridging knowledge and action for effective reforms 

The second roundtable, moderated by David Mair, Head of Unit for Science for Democracy and Evidence-Informed Policymaking at the JRC, examined how EIPM supports major reforms. Orla Lynch from Ireland’s Department of Further and Higher Education described Ireland’s integrated approach, where statisticians and analysts across ministries work under a common framework to link research with policy. Florence Lelait from France’s Ministry for Ecological Transition highlighted similar coordination efforts, emphasising early consultation with researchers to ensure coherence between science and policy. Marek Havrda, Principal Adviser at the European Commission’s Regulatory Scrutiny Board, stressed that reliable data and sound methodology are essential for informed decision-making, while Luis Pais Antunes, President of Portugal’s Economic and Social Council, pointed to a few practical challenges that remain for EIPM - time constraints between research and policy needs; the cumbersome process of public procurement. Judit Rózsa, Director at DG REFORM, concluded the session by reaffirming the role of the Technical Support Instrument in helping Member States build resilient public administrations. She emphasised that EIPM lies at the heart of this effort, fostering collaboration, capacity building, and citizens’ trust in evidence-based decision-making. 

Creating a new norm by combining policy with evidence 

David Mair, Head of Unit for Science for Democracy and Evidence-Informed Policymaking at the JRC, delivered a talk regarding EIPM 2.0, reflecting on the evolving landscape of evidence-informed policymaking and the current crisis of trust in public institutions. He emphasised that trust in both government and science can no longer be taken for granted. He noted that “policy without evidence is guesswork, and evidence without policy is paperwork”, highlighting that effective governance depends on a well-functioning EIPM ecosystem. He described the need to “flip the norm” in public administration so that, when a new policy is proposed, the first question becomes “Where is the evidence for this?”. Concluding his intervention, Mr. Mair addressed the member state beneficiaries of EIPM 2.0, underscoring their essential role in shaping the project’s outcomes and encouraging active, collaborative participation while reminding them that “we work with you”. 

From challenges to perfect beginnings: insights from the discussion groups 

In the afternoon, participants split into eight discussion groups. These sessions provided a space for open dialogue, followed by plenary exchanges where each group shared key conclusions. 

Challenges in Evidence-Informed Policymaking 

Moderated by Anastasia Deligkiaouri (JRC), the first set of discussions focused on identifying challenges in relation to EIPM. Participants highlighted that while the value of evidence in policymaking is widely recognised, translating this into practice remains complex. Key challenges identified included limited institutional capacity, both among scientists and policymakers, insufficient coordination structures and difficulties in maintaining continuity during periods of political change. The discussions also pointed to the need for stronger communication channels between scientists and policymakers to ensure that evidence is both accessible and usable. Participants noted that differences in timelines, working cultures, and expectations as well as lack of incentive often hinder effective cooperation. Building mutual understanding is essential for creating a sustainable EIPM ecosystem. Another recurring issue was trust, both in evidence itself and in the institutions that use it. Participants reflected on how misinformation, political polarisation and low public confidence can undermine evidence-informed decision-making. They underlined the importance of transparent communication, accurate data, and non-partisan support for EIPM to reinforce democratic legitimacy. 

Designing impactful national kick-off events 

The second set of discussion groups, moderated by Alexandra Olajos-Szabo (JRC), explored the designing of effective national kick-off events to launch the next phase of the project at the national level. Participants’ common ground was that these events should bring together scientists, policymakers and other stakeholders from civil society, as well as media representatives to build shared understanding and visibility for EIPM. The groups proposed a cross-sectoral and participatory approach—combining plenary sessions with workshops—to ensure meaningful engagement from all stakeholders. They emphasised the need to clearly define national goals, tailor activities to local contexts and maintain high-level political participation to signal commitment. Participants also discussed practical aspects such as ensuring media visibility, creating opportunities for young professionals, and fostering dialogue in both national languages and English. A common message emerged: national kick-off events should inspire collaboration, showcase the importance of evidence-informed policymaking and lay the foundation for sustained networks and future action. 

Concluding Remarks and Next Steps 

The conference concluded with reflections from Agnieszka Gadzina-Kołodziejska, Deputy Head of Unit at the Joint Research Centre for Science for Democracy and Evidence-Informed Policymaking. She emphasised that while science has the potential to support policymaking and benefit society, achieving this is not straightforward. The engagement and collaboration of Member States will be essential to advance the agenda and sustain momentum. The project’s next steps include the Inception report, which the team of country-officers at the JRC will prepare together with national beneficiary organisations, and the seven national kick-off meetings that the Member States will organise, launching the project at the national level.