REINFORCING project is organising the workshop 'Opening up R&I Processes: Who to Engage, and How?". This crash course will explore strategies for aligning research and innovation (R&I) with societal needs through meaningful stakeholder engagement.

R&I processes don’t always engage a broad range of stakeholders. Policymakers, civil society organisations, industry professionals, and the wider public are often only involved in superficial consultations, such as early-stage market analysis or late-stage product trials, if at all. However, a shift is emerging where diverse groups are more deeply integrated into the R&I process. By prioritising collaboration with these stakeholders, innovation can align more closely with societal needs, ensuring inclusive and fruitful outcomes.

This workshop focuses on identifying those societal needs and understanding how to engage the right audiences in R&I processes. Participants will learn how to conduct stakeholder mapping to determine who to engage and how to prioritise their involvement. We’ll explore strategies for inclusive engagement, ensuring diverse voices are heard throughout the innovation cycle. Participants will also gain practical insights on reaching out effectively, ensuring engagement is meaningful and impactful at every stage.

This workshop will be relevant to researchers and innovators, professionals from business incubators, start-ups, SMEs, technology transfer units, funding agencies or public bodies related to innovation—anyone with experience in R&I processes who is curious about the role that societal engagement could play.

It is led by the Stickydot team, which has a wealth of expertise in facilitating dialogue and participatory processes around research and innovation, both online and offline. The session in English will be dynamic and interactive, ensuring plenty of time for discussion and sharing of experiences.

The workshop will take place online via Zoom on December 10 between 15:00 and 16:30.

Register here

REINFORCING provides financial support to European organisations through grants to enable and support their journey towards open and responsible research and innovation. There is a cascade funding call open to support organisations and territories to experiment with ORRI approaches around the topic of 'Responsible Digitalisation' and implement actions to open their research and innovation processes and align them to societal needs and expectations. Learn more about the call in the dedicated ERRIN cascade funding section here.