The MAIN OUTCOME of PROSO research is a “Support Tool for promoting engagement of citizens and third sector actors in research and in research and innovation policy”. PROSO identified citizens and third sector actors as two different target groups of RRI’s vision of societal engagement in R&I. The document offers information and inspiration to develop policies and practices that encourage the engagement of these target groups in publicly-funded research and in research and innovation policy in the EU. In that sense it is a support tool for putting RRI into practice. The policies and practices set out in the Support Tool are options to address six central barriers to the engagement of citizens and third sector actors that PROSO research identified.
The Engagement Support Tool and its selection of barriers and policy and practice options build on the results of: a comprehensive literature review; research into the views of third sector actors and other relevant actors (nine case studies in three R&I domains, 60 interviews) and the views of citizens (national citizen panels in five European countries, 90 citizens) on engagement with research-related activities; the feedback and input of representatives of PROSO’s main target groups and researchers in the research areas of RRI and societal engagement on draft policy and practice options (one feedback conference, three expert workshops, around 70 stakeholders).
CONCLUSION OF THE PROJECT
Lack of relevance, lack of impact, lack of trust and critical views of others, lack of knowledge and skills, lack of time and finances, and lack of legitimacy are key barriers to the engagement of citizens and third sector actors in publicly-funded research and in research and innovation policy. Giving more weight to citizens and third sector actors in research-related activities requires that different types of actors (further) develop policies and practices to create supportive conditions for engagement; the policies also make changes happen in wider structures, e.g. in the ways the scientific community organizes and perceives itself; all actors understand that engaging society for RRI is not a short-term initiative but a long-term project that requires short-term, as well as medium- and long-term actions.
PROSO outcomes were DISSEMINATED through:
Targeted mailing of digital and printed copies of the Engagement Support Tool
Two European multi-actor conferences: “Engaging Society for Responsible Research and Innovation: New Options to Move Forward” (feedback conference, 19.06.2017 Brussels, Belgium) and “Empowering Societal Actors Through RRI” (final dissemination conference, 19.02.2018 Brussels, Belgium)
Three expert workshops: “Contemporary Experiences with Societal Engagement under RRI” (11.05.2016 Vienna, Austria), “Policy and Practice Options for Fostering Citizen Engagement in Research and Innovation – Moving towards Responsible Research and Innovation” (1.-2.12.2016 Sofia, Bulgaria); “Policies for Reducing Barriers to Societal Engagement in Research and Innovation” (16.11.2017 Frankfurt am Main, Germany)
Scientific presentations: PROSO was promoted at about 20 scientific conferences which included intensive exchanges with (completed and ongoing) partner projects on RRI and societal engagement, many of those concerned with PROSO’s three example R&I domains. Examples of conferences at which PROSO results were presented are: CommBizz Bioeconomy Impact – The Journey to Innovation, UK; European Public Health Conference, Sweden; BSA Food Studies Conference, UK; ECSITE Annual Conference, Portugal; 3rd European Technology Assessment Conference, Ireland; 4S Annual Meeting of the Society of Social Studies of Science, US; 4S/EASST Conference, Spain; 8th Annual S.Net Meeting, Norway
Further presentations: e.g. at the European Researchers’ Night in Ruse, Bulgaria, the annual exchange of experiences on Horizon 2020 organized by the EU-office of the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research in cooperation with the BAK – National Working Group of EU Funding Advisors at German Universities and Colleges), or a high-level debate on the occasion of the second European Industry Day
Scientific publications: One scientific publication was published within the official duration of the PROSO project. A Special Issue publication of PROSO results and results of two other EU-funded RRI-projects is planned which includes five peer-reviewed articles of PROSO work
Grey literature publications (PROSO deliverables): Twelve reports on PROSO’s methodology and empirical results
Three policy briefs and electronic newsletters
Two animated videos published on YouTube: The first video was an animated illustration of the concept and goals behind the PROSO project, the second an animated illustration of the Support Tool
Continuous contact with science journalists: Science journalists participated in several of PROSO’s events; PROSO maintained contact with a German science journalist association (TELI) throughout the project’s lifetime
Twitter strategies were developed to continuously promote PROSO activities and results, and a Twitter campaign was used to specifically promote the Engagement Support Tool
A project website: The PROSO website (
http://www.proso-project.eu/(opens in new window))
EXPLOITATION
The Engagement Support Tool offers policy makers and governmental agencies, research funding organizations and research councils, research organizations and other engagement performing organizations, and third sector actors specific information and inspiration about what they can do to encourage societal engagement. In that sense the document is a Support Tool for these actors for putting Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) into practice.
The results of PROSO’s qualitative research will advance current social scientific research on engagement of non-academic/non-specialist actors in publicly funded research and in research and innovation policy. PROSO has delivered fruitful insights into the views of these ‘lay’ publics on such engagement and the similarities, but also differences in what citizens and third sector actors are asked to contribute to research-related activities and in how their willingness and capability are shaped to make these contributions.
