Initiative 4.2. Science for Policy Ecosystem

What is it about?

The Science for Policy (S4P) initiative aims to strengthen interactions between science and policy-making in Austria.

It wants to build an ecosystem connecting researchers, policymakers, and administration to promote knowledge exchange and co-creation for evidence-based decisions.

It aims to create clearer structures for collaboration between researchers, policymakers, and administration.

Goals & Key Activities

• Mapping and analysis of the Austrian S4P ecosystem;
• Establishing room for reflection for S4P stakeholders – community building;
• Work towards a shared understanding of Science for Policy;
• Development of an S4P Framework for Austria;
• Build capacity in administration and parliament to work with scientific input.

Who is involved?

• Austrian Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research (BMBWF)
• Austrian Council for Sciences, Technology, and Innovation (FORWIT)
• Federal Chancellery
• Parliamentary Administration
• Austrian Academy of Sciences
• Universities Austria
• Austrian Conference of Universities of Applied Sciences.

Expected impact

• Developing a shared perception about what S4P in Austria encompasses and what the Austrian S4P ecosystem should achieve;
• Clarify roles and systematise S4P formats;
• Strengthen evidence-informed policymaking in a whole of government approach in Austria;
• Contribute to building trust in public institutions due to increasing transparency in political processes and decisions.