Author: Esteban Romero-Frías

Case Study of the Second Impronta Granada Meeting and Poniente Workshop

Description

The Quadruple Helix (QH) model fosters collaboration between four key stakeholders: academia, government, industry, and civil society. The Living Lab methodology allows these groups to cocreate solutions in real-world settings.

UGR County Councils refers to the initiative led by the University of Granada (UGR) under the Erasmus+ ENGAGEgreen project, aiming to foster collaboration between academic researchers, local governments, and community stakeholders. This initiative focuses on addressing regional challenges through cocreated, research-driven solutions. The Second Impronta Granada Meeting is the third pilot event organized by UGR as part of this project, bringing together researchers, policymakers, and local communities to discuss and develop strategies for sustainable development in rural and urban areas

The Poniente Workshop, part of the Second Impronta Granada meeting, serves as a case study of how these two frameworks work together to address regional challenges in the Poniente Granadino region. The event brought together policymakers, academics, local businesses, and citizens working together to identify shared needs, propose solutions, and codesign initiatives for the region’s sustainable development.

In the run-up to the workshop, two online meetings with the UGR County Councils from the Poniente region and other areas were held to identify the key themes that would be presented at the meeting. These discussions helped shape the agenda and guided the workshop’s focus on sustainable development, regional identity, and regional collaboration.

Summary: Key features in a nutshell

• Stakeholders involved: University of Granada (UGR), local governments (Diputación de Granada, municipalities), local businesses, civil society organizations, and citizens
• Objective: To identify common challenges and to cocreate actionable solutions for regional problems related to depopulation, local heritage, tourism, and economic development
• Format: An interactive workshop, with cocreation activities, and panel discussions, building on findings from two preparatory online meetings
• Outcome: Development of practical initiatives such as intergenerational housing, tourism revitalization, integration of local knowledge, and cultural heritage preservation

How does the format work?

The Poniente Workshop followed the Quadruple Helix (QH) model, with active participation from governmental actors, academia, local businesses, and civil society

1. Government: Local councils and the Diputación de Granada provided policy frameworks, funding, and regional development goals.
2. Academia: Experts from the University of Granada (UGR) shared research findings on cultural heritage, socioeconomic development, and sustainable tourism.
3. Civil Society: Organizations like Tierra de Aguas and local communities represented the needs of the population and their vision for the future of the Poniente region.
4. Local Businesses: Entrepreneurs discussed how to connect local products and services to sustainable tourism models and the economic revitalization of the area.

Challenges

• Coordination Complexity: Despite efforts, coordination between stakeholders remains a challenge due to the complexity of local governance structures, funding dynamics, and the differing goals of each actor
• Sustainability: The main challenge lies in maintaining long-term commitment to initiatives as most projects are funded on a short-term basis and lack a continuous funding strategy
• Stakeholder Engagement: The need to engage local businesses and the broader community remains difficult, especially in marginalized areas or regions where public participation is low

Tasks and resources

Scientists

• Tasks
  • Contributing research insights on socioeconomic development, cultural heritage, and sustainable tourism; providing evidence for policymaking
• Required resources
  • Time for fieldwork and data collection
  • Collaboration with local governments to align research with practical solutions
  • Support for disseminating research findings to local stakeholders

Knowledge exchange managers and research managers

• Tasks
  • Organizing stakeholder meetings
  • Disseminating research findings
  • Ensuring communication between academia, government, and civil society
• Required resources
  • Digital platforms (e.g., webinars, forums) to facilitate communication
  • Organizational resources for managing the events and sustaining long-term initiatives

Policymakers

• Tasks
  • Defining regional policy frameworks
  • Providing financial support for local initiatives
  • Ensuring alignment with local and EU development goals
• Required resources
  • Policy expertise and administrative capacity for effective project management
  • Financial support and allocation of resources to ongoing initiatives
  • Time to participate in meetings, workshops, and planning sessions

Examples

1. Living Lab Example:The Poniente Workshop served as a Living Lab where stakeholders codesigned solutions for regional development; projects such as intergenerational housing models and sustainable tourism programs were suggested based on real-world challenges presented during the workshop
2. Research-based example

• Research conducted by the University of Granada (UGR) on cultural heritage preservation informed the creation of strategies for preserving the region’s history while simultaneously boosting local economies
• Academic contributions, such as sociodemographic studies on depopulation, provided the foundation for formulating strategies that directly addressed the region’s challenges.

Sources and further reading

Official coverage of the Second Impronta Granada meeting – University and Territory event: https://improntagranada.es/impronta/ii-impronta-granada-meeting-strengthens-the-university-territory-alliance-in-loja/

Case Study Details

How is the Format Conducted?

• The Poniente Workshop followed a structured format of an interactive session with micropresentations, group work, and panel discussions; prior to the event, two preparatory online meetings helped define key themes, such as sustainable tourism, youth retention, and economic revitalization, which were then discussed in greater depth during the event

Available Resources (Main Tasks)

• Coordination between local councils, researchers, and civil society is key to ensuring sustainability and relevance of the projects
• Research dissemination through the University of Granada (UGR) to share key findings with all stakeholders and design solutions that align with regional needs

What works? What doesn’t? (Lessons learnt)

• What works: The QH model of collaboration was effective in fostering dialogue and co-creation among diverse stakeholders; bringing together a variety of stakeholders with shared interests can lead to effective co-creation of solutions. The Living Lab approach allows for real-time feedback
• What doesn’t work: Coordination remains a challenge, and stakeholder engagement continues to be difficult, especially with local businesses and marginalized groups; besides, ensuring sustainability and long-term engagement from stakeholders is challenging, particularly when there are limited resources

How are the activities evaluated?

• Evaluating the success of the Living Lab requires monitoring stakeholder engagement and the implementation of solutions post-workshop
• Feedback will be gathered through surveys and follow-up workshops to assess the long-term impact of the initiatives launched

Do you want to know more about the policy engagement toolkit?

Do you want to share your experience in policy engagement? Do you think about contributing to the policy engagement toolkit? Feel free to contact Tome Sandevski via science-policy@uni-frankfurt.de

Description – Key features in a nutshell

The UGR County Councils are regional dialogue spaces that connect university staff, local policymakers, civil society actors, and the private sector across Granada’s regions. They foster collaboration to identify local challenges and co-design solutions. Their aim is to align scientific knowledge with regional development needs. They are organised primarily around in-person meetings, while virtual sessions are also held to follow up on the activities of each UGR County Council. The UGR County Councils are new collaborative spaces designed:

• To foster direct connections between the University of Granada (UGR) and the different municipalities and regions within the province of Granada
• To create innovative, sustainable solutions by engaging the university, local governments, businesses, and the public in co-creation processes
• To generate opportunities and transfer scientific, educational, and innovative knowledge that contribute to the transformation and sustainable development of the regions
• To lay the foundations for future Living Labs, testing and applying innovations in public policies and local practices

How does the format work?

The methodology behind the UGR County Councils is based on the Living Lab methodology and follows a collaborative model known as the ‘Quadruple Helix’, bringing together four key stakeholders: the university, the public sector (municipalities’ mayors and governments), businesses, and citizens. The UGR County Councils aim to work closely with local communities to identify local needs related to three main thematic areas: the environmental impact of urban agendas, soil and culture. Besides, one of the UGR County Councils’ objectives is to design solutions for local development through regular meetings, workshops, and hackathons which can be implemented through scientific knowledge, technological innovation, and public policies.

After recruiting our main participants (lecturers, researchers, professors, and technicians from the University of Granada) via Google Form, the first informational meeting about the formation of UGR County Councils was held on 18 December 2024, gathering over 45 participants. The formal launch of the UGR County Councils took place and premiered on 20 January, 2025, as part of the Impronta Granada initiative, the strategic alliance between the University of Granada and the Provincial Council of Granada.

This recruitment process was coordinated by Medialab UGR, the Social Innovation Lab of the University of Granada. The first internal call was launched through a Google Form open to the entire university community between June and July 2024. Once this initial group was engaged, we organised the first informational and training session on the Living Lab methodology on 18 December 2024.

After ensuring that the university community was familiar with the initiative, we updated the Google Form to open participation to the other three helices – citizens, policymakers, and the business sector. University members themselves helped share the form with representatives from their own municipalities. Parallel to this, Medialab UGR, with the support of the Provincial Council of Granada, also sent the form to all municipalities in the province of Granada.

Challenges

• Engagement of local stakeholders. Ensuring active and sustained participation from local businesses, municipalities, and citizens is challenging
• Coordinating diverse interests. Balancing the interests of different groups (university, public sector, businesses, and citizens) while ensuring the project’s goals are met
• Implementation of solutions. Ensuring the co-created solutions are practical and implementable within the local context and effectively integrated into local policies

Tasks and resources

Scientists

Over 80 scientists from the University of Granada have joined the UGR County Council initiative. The registered researchers have different backgrounds and are specialised in more than 20 diverse areas of expertise (ranging from psychology and linguistics to parasitology and ecology), which make the knowledge transfer rich and fruitful.

Key tasks

• Provide scientific expertise and knowledge to help identify local needs and co-create innovative solutions
• Guide collaborative research projects that address regional challenges, particularly within the framework of the “Living Lab” methodology
• Actively participate in the evaluation of proposed solutions and innovations based on scientific validity and local applicability
• Present findings from collaborative efforts at various meetings, workshops, and events, such as the Impronta Granada annual gathering

Knowledge exchange managers and research managers

Key tasks

• Coordination of knowledge transfer by facilitating the transfer of scientific knowledge to local communities
• Ensure active participation from all relevant stakeholders, including municipalities, businesses, and citizens and ensure their needs are met with appropriate knowledge inputs
• Handle logistical arrangements for meetings, workshops, and events, ensuring smooth operations and communication
• Oversee the implementation of collaborative projects between UGR, businesses, and local governments
• Promote participation in the councils through communication strategies such as the social media campaigns
• Collect participant feedback after each session, ensuring that ideas and concerns are communicated effectively to the relevant decision makers

Policymakers

Key tasks

• Contribute to the identification of local needs, leveraging their expertise to align council projects with existing urban agendas and municipal and regional development plans
• Help ensure that the innovative solutions developed through the UGR County Councils are integrated into local governance and policymaking processes.
• Provide institutional support for the projects that emerge from the UGR County Councils
• Engage with local businesses, citizens, and researchers to promote regional collaborations and policy initiatives based on scientific evidence.

Example

The successful implementation of the Living Lab methodology in the 10 different regions constituting the Granada province, where university researchers and local stakeholders work together to design and implement solutions for their municipalities’ needs.

How has the format been implemented?

1. Initial informational session. Held on 18 December 2024, organised by Medialab UGR within the framework of the Impronta Granada initiative, with institutional support from the Vice-Rectorate for Social Innovation, Employability and Entrepreneurship. The meeting was moderated by Medialab UGR staff, who were also responsible for designing and managing the agenda, and brought together 46 participants to discuss the structure, objectives, and methodology behind the creation of the UGR County Councils.
2. Internal structure
   1. Council presidency. Vice-Rectorate for Social Innovation, Employability, and Entrepreneurship.
   2. Council spokesperson. Responsible for leading meetings, ensuring cohesion among stakeholders, and coordinating action implementation. This role could be assumed by a UGR lecturer or staff member.
   3. Dialogue facilitator. When necessary, Medialab UGR experts will facilitate participatory processes, ensuring all actors have a voice and that discussions are productive and balanced.
3. Ongoing Google Form questionnaire. The initial Google Form used to reach the lecturers, professors, researchers, and technicians from the University of Granada has been extended to the other three stakeholders (municipalities’ governments, private sector and citizenship in the region of Granada) accounting currently for over 120 registered participants.
4. Emailing list. Creation of an emailing list per UGR County Council so that the different participants can contact each other.
5. Organisational session. 10 different virtual meetings have been organised so that every UGR County Council participant can meet their counterparts and identify their local needs so as to present them in the formal launch event.
6. Formal launch. The councils met officially on 20 January 2025 during the Impronta Granada event, where all participants were introduced and roles assigned.
7. Additional meetings. Subsequent meetings will be held either in-person or online, depending on local needs and priorities.

Available resources (What are the main tasks?)

1. Coordination: Organising meetings, gathering feedback, and ensuring all stakeholders are informed of developments.
2. Workshops and Living Labs: Facilitating collaborative problem-solving and ideation sessions.
3. Community engagement: Ensuring active participation from local residents, businesses, and governmental bodies. Fostering engagement is considered in the following ways:
   1. Participation certificates;
   2. Continuous training through science-policy based workshops;
   3. Best UGR County Council Award to be delivered at the 2026 Impronta Granada event;
   4. Visibility and dissemination through UGR social media.

What works? What doesn`t? (Lessons learnt)

• What works? Clear communication channels and flexible participation options (online and in-person meetings) have helped engage stakeholders
• What doesn’t? Overreliance on digital platforms for engagement may exclude some community members, especially in rural areas with limited access to technology.

How do you evaluate the activities?

Evaluation will be conducted through continuous feedback loops, including focus groups after each meeting. Success indicators include:

• Number of projects initiated
• Level of satisfaction from participants
• Number of solutions implemented in local policies
• Degree of local economic impact

Sources and further reading

Promotion and dissemination of both the informational meeting and the consolidation of the UGR County Councils:

• UGR County Councils microsite via Impronta Granada website with the profile of the different participants: https://improntagranada.es/campaign/consejoscomarcalesugr/
• UGR County Councils news and informational video within the University of Granada via Medialab UGR: https://medialab.ugr.es/impronta-granada/la-universidad-de-granada-celebra-la-primera-reunion-informativa-sobre-la-constitucion-de-los-consejos-comarcales-ugr/

Do you want to know more about the policy engagement toolkit?

Do you want to share your experience in policy engagement? Do you think about contributing to the policy engagement toolkit? Feel free to contact Tome Sandevski via science-policy@uni-frankfurt.de

A Case Study of the Second Impronta Granada Meeting and Entrepreneurship and Employability Workshop

Description

UGR County Councils refers to the initiative led by the University of Granada (UGR) under the Erasmus+ ENGAGEgreen project, which aims to foster collaboration between academic researchers, local governments, and community stakeholders. This initiative focuses on addressing regional challenges through cocreated, research-driven solutions. The Second Impronta Granada Meeting is the third pilot event organized by UGR as part of this project, bringing together researchers, policymakers, and local communities to discuss and develop strategies for sustainable development in rural and urban areas.

Planning effective follow-up activities is essential to ensuring that the momentum generated by participatory events like the Entrepreneurship and Employability Workshop that took place at the Second Impronta Granada Meeting is sustained and transformed into long-term, actionable outcomes. The UGR County Councils initiative, along with the Second Impronta Granada Meeting, demonstrates how follow-up activities can provide continuous engagement between researchers, local governments, and youth participants to address employment and entrepreneurship challenges in rural regions. Follow-up actions help evaluate the success of proposed solutions and allow for adjustments as the community works together to overcome challenges and build sustainable initiatives.

Summary: Key features in a nutshell

• Objective: To design and implement follow-up activities that maintain engagement with local stakeholders and ensure sustainability in addressing employment and entrepreneurship issues
• Approach:
  • Post-event surveys to evaluate the effectiveness of proposals
  • Ongoing collaboration between UGR researchers, policymakers, and local businesses
  • Visibility of outcomes through digital platforms like the Impronta Granada website
• Outcome: Creation of long-term initiatives that reflect collaborative solutions and tackle local development challenges

How does the format work?

1. Planning post-event engagement: After the  Entrepreneurship and Employability Workshop, the follow-up phase ensures that all stakeholders stay engaged. This can be achieved through feedback loops like surveys and online discussions on platforms such as the Impronta Granada website. Feedback helps refine the solutions discussed during the event and provides participants an opportunity to reflect on the progress made.
2. Collecting feedback and evaluating impact: Post-event surveys and interviews can be used to measure the effectiveness of the proposed solutions. These tools help identify gaps in implementation and areas that require additional attention. For instance, participants could be asked if the entrepreneurship programs presented in the workshop were accessible and if they helped overcome barriers to starting businesses in rural areas.
3. Visibility and continuous engagement: Using digital platforms like the Impronta Granada website, researchers and policymakers can continue the dialogue after the event by updating project progress and sharing outcomes. This transparency keeps the community informed and ensures that everyone is working towards common goals.
4. Sustaining collaboration: Long-term engagement requires regular communication. After the II Encuentro Impronta Granada, stakeholders can continue collaborating through follow-up workshops, networking events, or virtual consultations, where ideas and solutions can be refined using feedback from the initial event.

Challenges

• Sustaining participation: Keeping stakeholders engaged long-term can be difficult due to time constraints, especially for researchers and policymakers who have other responsibilities
• Resource availability: Limited funding and resources can make consistent implementation of follow-up activities challenging
• Managing expectations: Ensuring that stakeholders’ expectations align with what can be realistically achieved in the follow-up phase is crucial to avoiding disillusionment

Tasks and resources

Scientists

• Tasks
  • Support data collection
  • Participate in follow-up workshops
  • Share updates on research progress
• Required resources
  • Time for research dissemination and follow-up consultations

Knowledge exchange managers and research managers

• Tasks
  • Coordinate online feedback.
  • Manage communication platforms
  • Facilitate follow-up events
• Required resources
  • Digital tools (e.g., websites, survey tools)

Policymakers

• Tasks
  • Monitor progress.
  • Allocate resources
  • Ensure that research findings are integrated into policy decisions
• Required resources
  • Financial and administrative support for post-event actions

Examples

1. Impronta Granada website: The Impronta Granada website allowed continuous engagement after the  Entrepreneurship and Employability Workshop where researchers shared updates, progress reports, and new insights, allowing policymakers and businesses could stay informed and involved.
2. Follow-up surveys: After the Second Encuentro Impronta Granada, surveys were used to assess the effectiveness of entrepreneurship programs and youth employment initiatives discussed during the event, with feedback used to refine the proposals and ensure that they met local needs.

Sources and further reading

• Impronta Granada Website – https://improntagranada.es/
• Official coverage of the Second Impronta Granada meeting – University and Regional event: https://improntagranada.es/impronta/ii-impronta-granada-meeting-strengthens-the-university-territory-alliance-in-loja/

Case study details:

How is the format implemented?

Follow-up activities are initiated post-dialogue events to ensure the connection between researchers and policymakers is maintained. For example, after the Second Impronta Granada Meeting, researchers were invited to submit further proposals for collaboration based on the feedback received from policymakers and stakeholders. This ensured that both parties could review and refine their engagements.

Available resources (main tasks):

• Collecting feedback from participants to assess the relevance of research presentations
• Facilitating ongoing dialogue via online platforms like Impronta Granada to track progress
• Organizing further collaborative meetings based on the discussions at the events

What works? What doesn’t? (Lessons Learnt):

What works:

Using structured online platforms such as Impronta Granada to continue discussions beyond events ensures that the momentum of the workshops and discussions is not lost.

What doesn’t work:

It’s challenging to maintain sustained participation by policymakers after the events due to their varying commitments and workloads.

How are the activities evaluated?

The follow-up activities were evaluated using feedback surveys sent to both researchers and policymakers, to gauge how well the research had impacted local policymaking. Follow-up surveys assessed the continuation of collaboration, the implementation of knowledge, and the development of new projects or initiatives inspired by the initial discussions.

Do you want to know more about the policy engagement toolkit?

Do you want to share your experience in policy engagement? Do you think about contributing to the policy engagement toolkit? Feel free to contact Tome Sandevski via science-policy@pvw.uni-frankfurt.de

Case Study of the Second Impronta Granada Meeting and Entrepreneurship and Employability Workshop

Description

Organizing dialogue events in capitals or key urban areas requires a structured approach that balances the needs of local stakeholders with the goals of policymakers. These events provide a platform for researchers, businesses, and policymakers to co-create solutions for pressing territorial challenges, ensuring that the voice of the community is heard and considered. This contribution discusses strategies for organizing dialogue events in urban centers and leveraging them to foster inclusive policymaking in the context of entrepreneurship and youth employment.

Summary: Key Features in a Nutshell:

• Objective: To create an effective structure for dialogue events that connect local stakeholders with policymakers to co-create sustainable solutions for employment and entrepreneurship.
• Approach:
  • Clear goals for the event to align academic research with policy priorities.
  • Multi-stakeholder workshops to foster collaborative solutions.
  • Use of interactive tools (e.g., micropresentations, polling, feedback sessions) to ensure active participation.
• Outcome: A transparent and inclusive process where local challenges are addressed through policy-driven solutions that are informed by academic research and local expertise.

How Does the Format Work?

1. Setting Clear Objectives: Before the event, it is essential to define the goals and outcomes expected from the dialogue event. For the Entrepreneurship and Employability Workshop, the goal was to address youth unemployment and promote entrepreneurship in the Poniente Granadino region by involving UGR researchers, local businesses, and policymakers.
2. Interactive Sessions and Workshops: During the event, interactive workshops and micropresentations were organized to encourage real-time feedback. Researchers shared data and insights, while policymakers discussed policy frameworks and how these could be integrated with academic findings to create actionable strategies.
3. Engagement with Local and National Stakeholders: It is important to include both local actors and national policymakers in the discussion. The Entrepreneurship and Employability Workshop in Granada connected local youth and policymakers with national representatives, ensuring that the solutions developed were relevant and feasible at both levels.
4. Post-Event Engagement: Ensuring that the event leads to sustained collaboration is key. Follow-up activities, including workshops and feedback surveys, should be planned to ensure that policymakers and researchers continue to collaborate after the event.

Challenges:

• Managing Expectations: Different stakeholders have different expectations. Policymakers may focus on policy alignment while researchers may prioritize data accuracy. Balancing these priorities requires careful facilitation.
• Sustaining Momentum: Keeping the engagement high after the initial dialogue event requires consistent follow-up, which may be hindered by time constraints or budget limitations.

Tasks and Resources:

Scientists

• Tasks:
  • Present research findings relevant to youth employment and entrepreneurship.
  • Provide data-driven solutions for local development challenges.
  • Engage in workshops and policy discussions.
• Required Resources:
  • Time for research dissemination and participation in events.
  • Communication tools for presenting research data and engaging with stakeholders.

Knowledge exchange managers and research managers

• Tasks
  • Facilitate interactive workshops and ensure researcher-policymaker interaction.
  • Organize feedback loops and ensure ongoing communication post-event.
• Required Resources:
  • Digital platforms for research dissemination and ongoing feedback.
  • Logistical support for organizing sessions and ensuring active participation.

Policymakers

• Tasks:
  • Integrate research findings into local policies and allocate resources to support research-driven initiatives.
  • Ensure long-term collaboration between researchers and local communities.
• Required Resources:
  • Policy expertise to interpret research data and incorporate it into decision-making.
  • Financial resources for post-event actions and implementation.

Examples

UGR County Councils refers to the initiative led by the University of Granada (UGR) under the ENGAGEgreen project, aiming to foster collaboration between academic researchers, local governments, and community stakeholders. This initiative focuses on addressing territorial challenges through co-created, research-driven solutions. The Second Impronta Granada Meeting is the third pilot event organized by UGR as part of this project, bringing together researchers, policymakers, and local communities to discuss and develop strategies for sustainable development in rural and urban areas.

The Entrepreneurship and Employability Workshop, which took place at the Second Impronta Granada meeting, successfully organized multi-stakeholder dialogues in an urban setting, enabling researchers, policymakers, and youth participants to collaborate in addressing employment and entrepreneurship challenges. The event’s interactive workshops helped align research with local policy, paving the way for further collaboration.

Sources and Further Reading

• Official coverage of the Second Impronta Granada meeting – University and Territory event: https://improntagranada.es/impronta/ii-impronta-granada-meeting-strengthens-the-university-territory-alliance-in-loja/

Case Study Details

How is the Format Conducted

Dialogue events in capitals, such as the Second Impronta Granada Meeting in Loja, combine workshops, networking sessions, and presentations. These events are organized with a mix of in-person and virtual participation to ensure accessibility for a broader audience. The inclusion of policymakers, researchers, and stakeholders from civil society allows for multi-dimensional dialogue on issues such as climate change, urban development, and social innovation.

For this event, an innovative dialogue event was held, where a combination of physical and virtual formats allowed for maximum participation from stakeholders. Researchers from the University of Granada and other partner universities participated by showcasing their work in thematic workshops. The event included a series of discussions, policy briefs, and presentations, as well as the important inclusion of local policymakers through the Impronta Granada platform, which bridges the gap between the academic community and decision-makers.

Available Resources (Main Tasks)

• Securing venues in capital cities for large-scale meetings.
• Coordinating with stakeholders from local and regional governments, universities, and research institutes.
• Using online platforms such as Impronta Granada to promote dialogue and share research outcomes with a wider audience.

What Works? What Doesn’t? (Lessons Learnt)

What works:

The hybrid event format (in-person + online) allowed for wide participation and dynamic interaction. Micropresentations were particularly successful in translating research data into actionable policy recommendations.

What doesn’t work:

Sustaining momentum after the event remains challenging, particularly in ensuring long-term involvement from policymakers who face competing priorities. Additionally, ensuring equal participation across all sectors, especially among local businesses, can be difficult in regions with fewer resources.

How Do You Evaluate the Activities:

To evaluate the effectiveness of the dialogue events, surveys were distributed to all participants to assess their satisfaction with the format, content, and overall engagement. Key indicators such as the number of new collaborations formed, and the implementation of research insights into local policies, were also tracked to assess long-term impact.

Do you want to know more about the policy engagement toolkit?

Do you want to share your experience in policy engagement? Do you think about contributing to the policy engagement toolkit? Feel free to contact Tome Sandevski via science-policy@pvw.uni-frankfurt.de