The latest scoop for policymaking
EU policy has always been shaped by social and economic research to inform policymakers, ensuring the well-being of citizens and sustainability of communities. It is crucial for policymakers to be up to date with the latest developments and trends in order to continue articulating effective policies that guarantee the livelihood of Europeans. In this context, the EU-funded project 'Socioeconomic sciences: communicating outcomes oriented to policy' (SCOOP) strengthened policymaking by disseminating key research to policymakers. The project focused on EU research in socioeconomic sciences and humanities, reaching out to policymakers, civil society organisations, business leaders and the media. Over the course of 3 years it distributed 26 monthly news alerts featuring policy-relevant articles on socioeconomic sciences and humanities (SSH) issues such as growth, employment, competitiveness, social cohesion, intercultural understanding, education and sustainability. These alerts were sent to a database of 8 000 key people in relevant fields. Ensuring robust transfer of knowledge between the research and policy communities, as well as to the public at large, SCOOP effectively improved the uptake of SSH research into policy at local, regional, national and European levels. In addition, the project organised several communication master classes to build communication skills within the SSH research community, encouraging better dissemination of their research findings to policymakers and relevant parties. Importantly, the project team also developed ways to assess the effectiveness of SCOOP and its alert mechanisms, demonstrating its usefulness and success in communicating valuable policy-related information. The alert service was increasingly used for policymaking during the project's lifetime, supported by a wealth of key articles and issues. Thanks to such initiatives policymaking in the EU has become more in touch with communities and citizens, reflecting their needs and safeguarding their future.
