Ensuring Networks Can Meet Societal Needs (EN-SN):
Policy, Research & Co-production
 

Science Foundation Ireland’s (SFI) Policy Research project, ‘Ensuring Networks Can Meet Societal Needs’ (EN-SN) is being conducted by the University of Galway and will run from 2024-2026. This project investigates how research networks can support the science-policy interface to meet societal needs in (i) Ensuring research networks’ operations support government objectives and (ii) Determining whether knowledge co-production is the best medium to facilitate knowledge flow between the science and policy sectors.

 

EN-SN aims to provide clear guidance on how research networks can improve their operations through a detailed analysis of research networks and; the creation and application of a national and international interactive workshop series which assesses how the communication strategy of research networks meets desired societal outcomes. 

 

The specific outputs of the project includes:

 

• A research paper which provides theoretical and practical consideration in regards to the ability for research networks to meet societal needs. 

• The application of a Logic Model to research networks as case-studies (including NARI!) to better understand how the inputs, activities, outputs, outcomes, and impacts of research networks interrelate to create best practice transmissions across the science-policy interface.

• A white paper highlighting a clear road-map for research networks to improve their operational abilities based on relevant government policies.

• A national and international workshop series which utilises the Network Compass methodology developed by Bern University in order to support research networks in improving their communication strategies.

• A research paper analysing best-practice communication strategies for research networks based upon the results of the workshop series.

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