What type of science, knowledge, and interactions do we need for coherent and cross-compliant formulation and implementation of policies?
Identified needs
To answer the question above, analyses were conducted on the functioning of SPS at the EU level (policy formulation) and at the case study levels (policy implementation). Based on the results of these analyses, good practices were identified, but also some “needs” to be addressed to improve the efficacy and effectiveness of reinforced SPSI in informing the process of evidence-based policy making.
The full list of 22 needs classified per main Building Block is available below.
BB-A | Data & Knowledge
Timely availability and accessibility
Data and knowledge should be timely available and accessible across policies, through standardized data sharing protocols, including clear guidelines on data granularity, accessibility, and confidentiality.
Explicit acknowledgement of knowledge gaps
For decision and policy making processes to be transparent, inclusive and effective, knowledge gaps and uncertainties also need to be considered explicitly and adaptively, while accounting for the source of information and the specifics of it.
- Consideration of interlinkages across policies, sectors, disciplines
Highlighting and considering interlinkages across sectors, across societal actors, across disciplines, and among different geographical levels is a factor of success in environmental sciences and a booster for policy coherence.
BB-B | Assessments
Transparency, relevance, legitimacy, credibility
Assessments should be transparent, relevant, legitimate, credible and made available.
Recognition of knowledge providers
Assessments should recognize a wide array of contributors as knowledge providers, to be identified through a dedicated process.
Integration of all relevant sectors and disciplines
The assessments should include and integrate all the relevant different sectors, discipline and elements that should be considered depending on the specifities of the policy process. This regards in particular economic and social conditions affecting and depending on policy-making.
Linking assessments, policy and management
Closer link between assessments and policy and management processes, also taking into consideration their impacts on larger spatial domains, including transboundary impacts.
Inclusion of scenarios
When relevant, assessments should include and analyse foresight/future scenarios, including climate change and socio-economic aspects, as a support to decision-making.
BB-C | Knowledge transfer models and mechanisms
- Collaborative models
The models of scientific policy advice and knowledge transfer mechanisms should be based on collaboration and communication among actors involved (despite when linear models are more suitable). Respecting case-by-case settings and constraints, clearly move towards fully collaborative models.
Impact positively the relevance, legitimacy and credibility of research
The models of scientific policy advice and knowledge transfer mechanisms should impact positively the relevance, legitimacy and credibility of research to support policy making. But this should be made evident and possibly objective (e.g. use the 15 indicators proposed by Wagner et al., 2022).
Improvement (institutional design) of SPS governance
Improving SPS governance. Principles: institutional design needs to consider and manage “biases” and disagreement on both scientists’ and policymakers’ sides, as well as uncertainty in the science of complex problems (i.e. using a post-normal science approach: “normal science may have little to offer when facts are uncertain, values are in dispute, stakes are high, and decisions are urgent” (Funtowics & Ravetz, 1993)).
Improvement of reinforcement (rules and procedures) of SPS governance
Implementing SPS governance. Operational: clear rules and procedures should be established to apply the models of scientific policy advice and knowledge transfer mechanisms. Rules and procedures are in place, but sometimes they fail or remain too policy-specific.
Less fragmented SPS ecosystems
More robust and less fragmented science-for-policy ecosystems in Member States and the EU.
BB-D | SPSI Platforms
Promotion and/or reinforcement of SPS platforms
Promote (or reinforce where already available) SPSI platforms that play a role in contributing to knowledge transfer in a continous and inclusive way. In particular promoting interlinkages across sectors, across societal actors, across disciplines, and among different geographical levels and ensuring their impact.
Set up and reinforcement of boundary organisations in knowledge translation and cross-sectoral collaboration
Where relevant, setting up and reinforcing of boundary organisations in knowledge translation and cross-sectoral collaboration. We refer to boundary organization as formal institutions that operate at the interface between science and policy, facilitating collaboration and knowledge exchange. They aim to bridge the gap between researchers and decision-makers, enhancing the impact of scientific research on environmental policy and practice (Cvitanovic et al., 2018, Gluckman et al., 2021, Oliver et al., 2021, Wagner et al., 2022).
BB-E | Competence framework
Adequacy of competences (inter- and trans-disciplinary)
Individual competences for SPS. Competences of actors (e.g. subject-specific knowledge, skills, attitudes) should be adequate, targeting in particular inter- and trans-disciplinarity.
Inclusive and available capacity-building activities
Capacity-building activities focused on SPS should be available, inclusive and aimed at increasing overall and systemic expertise or can be tailored to particular knowledge needs.
Recognition to scientists for SPS work
Research policies and recognition to scientists for SPS work. More direct interest of Knowledge Generator actors in SPS processes and outputs, becoming also Evidence Pumps and / or being able to play an active role in collaborative SPS models. A research policy that promotes connections between policymaking and scientific communities.
BB-F | Funding & resources
Mixed set of drivers for funding
Type of funding. A mixed set of drivers (e.g. demand driven, supply driven, or proceeding from competitive funding schemes) and type of funding (e.g. from national to EU/international, from public to private) is advisable.
Adequacy of amount, continuity, allocation of resources
Lack of funding. The amount, continuity, allocation (e.g., human resources, infrastructures, services, communication) of resources should be adequate.
Cross-cutting
“Repository of SPSI Best Practices and science-for-policy ecosystems”, with an inter-institutional focus too
Creation and maintenance of a “Repository of SPSI Best Practices and science-for-policy ecosystems”, with an inter-institutional focus too (e.g. how the work of different organisations is related to various policies and therefore other organsations). See JRC Knowledge Exchange Platform (KEP).
Adopt a self-evaluation of SPSI processes in policy formulation and implementation and science-for-policy ecosystems
Continuously adopt a self-evaluation of SPSI processes in policy formulation and implementation and science-for-policy ecosystems. It should become a routine and should be possibly follow shared guidelines (possibly coming from or endorsed by the EC). Using a set of indicators, a list of questions (e.g. Strand, 2022) or a step-wise analysis of evidence-informed policy processes (EC, 2023. Better regulation toolbox).
A co-created Blueprint to strenghten SPS interfaces in the marine domain
The listed needs, alongside recommended actions, are outlined in more detailed in the Blueprint below.
This Blueprint focuses on strengthening SPSIs — the mechanisms through which scientific knowledge, policy priorities, and societal perspectives come together — to enable more effective, coherent, and adaptable policy making in the face of complex marine and climate challenges.
It provides a conceptual structure and a set of recommended actions to help policy makers, stakeholders, and practitioners integrate the best available knowledge into marine policy decisions.
It proposes two sets of recommended actions—one targeting EGD-related marine policies broadly, and the other focused on specific sectors and policy areas—illustrated with practical examples and lessons learned from the project.
Why it matters?
Evidence-informed policy making is key to addressing the growing pressures on marine environments and securing a sustainable future. The Blueprint aims to enhance policy coherence, foster collaboration, and empower stakeholders to use knowledge effectively. By strengthening SPSIs, we can implement policies that are more robust, more adaptable, and better able to respond to climate change, ecosystem degradation, and competing policy goals — all while strengthening public trust and effective policy implementation.
References
- Cvitanovic, C., Löf, M. F., Norström, A. V., & Reed, M. S. (2018). Building university-based boundary organisations that facilitate impacts on environmental policy and practice. PLoS ONE, 13(9), e0203752. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0203752
- EC, 2023. Better regulation toolbox. July 2023.
- Funtowicz, S. O., & Ravetz, J. R. (1993). Science for the post-normal age. Futures, 25(7), 739–755. https://doi.org/10.1016/0016-3287(93)90022-l
- Gluckman, P. D., Bardsley, A., & Kaiser, M. (2021). Brokerage at the science–policy interface: from conceptual framework to practical guidance. Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, 8 (1). https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-021-00756-3
- Oliver, T., Benini, L., Borja, A., Dupont, C., Doherty, B., Grodzinska-Jurczak, M., Iglesias, A., Jordan, A., Kass, G., Lung, T., Maguire, C., McGonigle, D., Mickwitz, P., Spangenberg, J.H., Tarrason, L., 2021. Knowledge architecture for the wise governance of sustainability transitions. Environmental Science and Policy 126 (2021) 152–163.
- Strand, R., 2022. Indicator dashboards in governance of evidence-informed policymaking: Thoughts on rationale and design criteria, Krieger, K., and Melchor L. (editors), Publications Office of the European Union, Luxembourg, ISBN 978-92-76-53652-9, doi:10.2760/328204, JRC129902.
- Wagner, N., Velander, S., Biber-Freudenberger, L., & Dietz, T. (2022). Effectiveness factors and impacts on policymaking of science-policy interfaces in the environmental sustainability context. Environmental Science & Policy, 140, 56–67. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci.2022.11.008