Formats
Policy engagement can take many forms, depending on the objectives, target audiences, and policy context. Choosing the right format is an important step in ensuring that research-based knowledge reaches policymakers in a way that is relevant, accessible, and useful for decision-making.
Formats provide the practical channels through which researchers and policymakers exchange knowledge, perspectives, and evidence. Some formats focus on communicating information through written materials, while others emphasise direct interaction, dialogue, and collaboration. Each approach offers distinct advantages and can serve different purposes throughout the policy cycle.
In this toolkit, formats are organised into two broad categories: Written Formats and Dialogue-Oriented Formats. Written formats include products such as policy briefs, reports, fact sheets, and consultation responses that translate research findings into accessible and actionable information. Dialogue-oriented formats, by contrast, create opportunities for direct engagement through activities such as workshops, hearings, expert talks, pairing schemes, and collaborative events.
Neither category should be viewed in isolation. In practice, effective policy engagement often combines multiple formats, for example by using written materials to prepare for or follow up on discussions with policymakers and stakeholders. The choice of format will depend on factors such as the intended audience, available resources, timing, and the desired level of interaction.
The examples presented in this section highlight a range of approaches used across Europe to connect research and policymaking. Together, they demonstrate how different formats can support knowledge exchange, relationship building, and evidence-informed decision-making in diverse policy environments.
