Periodic Reporting for period 2 - BioAgora (Bio Knowledge Agora: Developing the Science Service for European Research and Biodiversity Policymaking)
Période du rapport: 2024-01-01 au 2025-06-30
Despite improved understanding of the need for science to inform biodiversity-related policy making and the rich field of science-policy interfaces (SPIs), there remains a gap in ensuring that decision makers across all societal sectors have direct access to research-based knowledge when planning, budgeting and deciding on actions that have an impact on local, national, EU and global biodiversity. BioAgora will develop a Science Service for Biodiversity (Science Service), which responds to the present gaps and future needs in SPIs and which provides the science pillar of the EU’s Knowledge Centre for Biodiversity (KCBD). The Science Service aims to ratchet up the EU biodiversity commitments, starting with the Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 (BDS 2030), by orchestrating science-policy interactions within the EU. It will channel the entire breadth of EU biodiversity science, from data collection to meta-analyses, into actionable knowledge and communicate this knowledge through two-way platforms to EU institutions and the broader community. BioAgora will go beyond the state of the art by co-creating new ways of bridging the gap between science, practice and policy and use this as a basis for the Science Service’s development for future needs.
The Science Service is being built around five specific objectives and now structured by three core, interlinked functions: Transforming processes within and between science and policy, Activating and building capacities of knowledge exchange networks, and Answering policy-relevant requests and building an evidence base.
The Science Service is being built around five specific objectives and now structured by three core, interlinked functions: Transforming processes within and between science and policy, Activating and building capacities of knowledge exchange networks, and Answering policy-relevant requests and building an evidence base.
Operationalising the Science Service (SO1):
During RP2, BioAgora refined the Science Service framework, aligning the project structure around the three interlinked functions and Task forces were established for each function. These guide activities across Work Packages and ensure a systemic, iterative approach. Key tools were developed during RP2, such as the KCBD ticketing system to handle knowledge requests with the JRC and the transition from Demonstration Cases to thematic Knowledge Exchange Networks (KENs).
Developing Demonstration Cases into Knowledge Exchange networks (KENs)(SO2):
The initial four demonstration cases (freshwater, marine biodiversity, nature-based solutions, pollination) evolved into KENs—strategic, collaborative platforms aligned with biodiversity policy goals. In partnership with the European Commission (DG RTD, ENV, MARE, JRC, REA), BioAgora launched seven out of 17 targeted EC clusters forming cores for KENs. The remaining KENs will be activated by relevant networks / initiatives and guided by Bioagora and in the future by the Science Service.
Embedding Just Practices and Plural Knowledge (SO3):
During RP2, BioAgora made substantial progress in developing the ethical infrastructure that underpins the trustworthiness and legitimacy of the Science Service. A set of core values was defined, supported by cross-cutting process principles. Together, these provide a strong foundation for an ethical infrastructure implementation strategy currently in draft form. The explicit recognition of plural knowledge systems and relational values is central to BioAgora’s commitment to a just and inclusive Science Service.
Establishing Governance and Business Models (SO4):
An inclusive governance model was co-designed with stakeholders, blending hierarchical roles with sociocratic principles. It includes three governance bodies corresponding to the Science Service functions where the Transformation and Innovation Board will also include key stakeholders. The Board also includes an ethics expert, and the Request Management Team incorporates a societal champion—a non-scientific knowledge holder—tasked with ensuring that responses to requests reflect broader societal perspectives and values.
A draft business plan based on a business model canvas was finalised and shared with the Commission, with external review underway.
Capacity Building and Co-Learning (SO5):
BioAgora implemented a robust capacity-building programme, including co-learning events, KEN-based workshops, and cluster events with policy actors. Early-career researchers created a working group and designed a policy pairing scheme. Two additional projects were launched via cascade funding to expand capacity-building activities in RP3.
During RP2, BioAgora refined the Science Service framework, aligning the project structure around the three interlinked functions and Task forces were established for each function. These guide activities across Work Packages and ensure a systemic, iterative approach. Key tools were developed during RP2, such as the KCBD ticketing system to handle knowledge requests with the JRC and the transition from Demonstration Cases to thematic Knowledge Exchange Networks (KENs).
Developing Demonstration Cases into Knowledge Exchange networks (KENs)(SO2):
The initial four demonstration cases (freshwater, marine biodiversity, nature-based solutions, pollination) evolved into KENs—strategic, collaborative platforms aligned with biodiversity policy goals. In partnership with the European Commission (DG RTD, ENV, MARE, JRC, REA), BioAgora launched seven out of 17 targeted EC clusters forming cores for KENs. The remaining KENs will be activated by relevant networks / initiatives and guided by Bioagora and in the future by the Science Service.
Embedding Just Practices and Plural Knowledge (SO3):
During RP2, BioAgora made substantial progress in developing the ethical infrastructure that underpins the trustworthiness and legitimacy of the Science Service. A set of core values was defined, supported by cross-cutting process principles. Together, these provide a strong foundation for an ethical infrastructure implementation strategy currently in draft form. The explicit recognition of plural knowledge systems and relational values is central to BioAgora’s commitment to a just and inclusive Science Service.
Establishing Governance and Business Models (SO4):
An inclusive governance model was co-designed with stakeholders, blending hierarchical roles with sociocratic principles. It includes three governance bodies corresponding to the Science Service functions where the Transformation and Innovation Board will also include key stakeholders. The Board also includes an ethics expert, and the Request Management Team incorporates a societal champion—a non-scientific knowledge holder—tasked with ensuring that responses to requests reflect broader societal perspectives and values.
A draft business plan based on a business model canvas was finalised and shared with the Commission, with external review underway.
Capacity Building and Co-Learning (SO5):
BioAgora implemented a robust capacity-building programme, including co-learning events, KEN-based workshops, and cluster events with policy actors. Early-career researchers created a working group and designed a policy pairing scheme. Two additional projects were launched via cascade funding to expand capacity-building activities in RP3.
During PR2 we have continued the work for both scientific and societal impact, and the work done has contributed to building a functional, fair and transformative science policy interface for biodiversity at the EU. All the project activities are based on the rigorous scientific work which are manifested in several peer-reviewed papers that are submitted and/or published during RP2, including a comprehensive social network analysis in the European SPI for biodiversity, a policy coherence analysis on biodiversity conflicting policies in the EU empirical experiences on first urgent policy request model as well as transformative potential of SPI networks Implementation, challenges that hinder the EU Biodiversity Strategy and a sociocratic governance model for the Science Service. The project has developed three core, interlinked functions for the Science Service: Transforming processes within and between science and policy Activating and building capacities of knowledge exchange networks Answering policy-relevant requests and building an evidence base.