Unlocking Future Synergies: Policymakers and Innovators Unite at Projects to Policy Seminar
Projects to Policy Seminar helps build bridges between researchers and policy makers to enhance Europe's Security Policies and innovations
On June 25-26, NBSINFRA participated in the Projects to Policy seminar in Brussels, a yearly event, organized by the European Research Agency (REA) and the Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs (DG HOME).
The seminar gathered all projects funded under the CL3 Secure Societies Call 2022, including NBSINFRA, with the aim to establish a two-way dialogue between the projects and the European Commission services. Participants had the chance to discover insights on how the projects can shape and support policy implementations.
The seminar also included breakout sessions divided into four thematic areas:
- Fighting Crime and Terrorism & Critical Infrastructure (FCT/INFRA)
- Strengthened Security Research and Innovation (SSRI)
- Disaster-Resilient Societies (DRS)
- Border Management (BM)
NBSINFRA was part of the 'Fighting Crime and Terrorism & Critical Infrastructure (FCT/INFRA)' breakout session. During this session, Elisabete Teixeira from UMINHO, the project coordinator, presented the project's objectives, challenges, achievements, and next steps: "Participating in the Projects to Policy Seminar was incredibly valuable for NBSINFRA. It provided us with a unique platform to showcase our project's progress and achievements, and to engage with policymakers and experts. The breakout sessions were fundamental to highlighting common challenges and fostering collaborations. The seminar underscored the importance of resilient societies and the role of nature-based solutions in enhancing Europe's security policies and innovations. This event helped us establish future synergies that will contribute to a safer, more resilient Europe."
Oyku Dogan, from ICONS Foundation, presented their approach to dissemination and communication activities and upcoming steps regarding NBSINFRA. "When communicating the project, we need to consider all stakeholders and target audiences, including the citizens. That's why we planned upcoming social media campaigns such as 'Glossary' to explain the project's technical terms to the general public. While it is a way to simplify updates for them, it's also effective in raising awareness. This is, of course, one of many activities planned."
For NBSINFRA, creating synergies with other high-risk themed projects was an essential outcome. The discussions provided an excellent opportunity for project coordinators and communicators to come together, identify common issues, and lay the groundwork for future collaborations. It was also a great occasion to learn more about the European Commission's services that support the project results and communication and dissemination, while offering guidance regarding the policy-related outputs the policy Directorates-General are interested in.
Contacts:
Alice de Ferrari
Project Management Officer
Elisabete Teixeira
Project Coordinator
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