A new element in Science meets Regions 2.0 is the introduction of pairing schemes, which will allow local and regional policymakers to connect with scientists who are experts in areas of science relevant for the policy issues that they are working on.
While pairing schemes are not a silver bullet to enhance evidence-informed policymaking, they can contribute to both improving mutual understanding between scientists and policymakers and facilitating the access of policymakers to relevant scientific evidence. Likewise, they provide scientists with direct insights into how policy develops and widen their professional networks. Pairing schemes will therefore be a useful complement to the policy co-creation events and training activities that constitute the other components of the programme.
In light of this, JRC has launched a call for expression of interest to explore the possibility of implementing various pairing schemes in a decentralised way and with a variable geometry. The following nine projects, from seven Member States were selected:
- BETA Centre Tecnològic (UVic/UCC), from Catalonia, Spain;
- Ciencia en el Parlamento (Science in Parliament), from Valencian Community, Spain;
- Goethe University Frankfurt, in cooperation with Technical University Darmstadt and Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, from the state of Hessen and Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany;
- Marshal Office of the Małopolska Region, from Poland;
- Palacký University, from Olomouc, Czechia;
- Radboud University, from Gelderland, the Netherlands;
- Universidad of Granada, from Andalusia, Spain;
- University of Ruse "Angel Kanchev", from Ruse Province, Bulgaria;
- Royal Flemish Academy of Belgium for Science and the Arts — KVAB, from Flanders, Belgium.