We want to bring to your attention the recent report of the Copenhagen Research Forum ( www.crf2012.org), which makes recommendations for Horizon 2020.  Here are some keywords from their section on "Framework conditions for research": Researchers should be encouraged to engage with stakeholders to produce science, which most efficiently can be made relevant for society. There is a need to improve the transfer of knowledge from research and science communities to commercial stakeholders and the general pulic. ..the assessment criteria must always reward novelty and accept that all the potential impacts will not be known a priori. Intellectual property rights issues...should be addressed on a European scale. If stakeholder involvement means that research projects become more complex, then larger projects need to be funded for longer time periods, preferably 5-7 year grants/contracts instead of three-year projects.

RESCUE (Responding to the Challenges of our Unstable Earth) is a Forward Look initiated by ESF and COST. The synthesis report was released last Thursday at an event in the International Press Centre in Brussels. The report will be available to download from the website (www.esf.org/rescue)

This summing up of the case studies highlights key challenges for the future of RD4SD

Summary for Decision-Makers

Now the case study on Central and Eastern Europe is finalised. Read about Czech Republic, Poland and Hungary.

Regional Case Study Central & Eastern Europe

Now the French case study is ready and up-loaded

Case study France

Six case studies - EU, Germany, Sweden, Switzerland, UK and Southern Europe - are now finalised and published on the web-site. http://www.visionrd4sd.eu/top-about-vision-rd4sd/country-and-regional-studies

The case studies are designed to support this dialogue through creating a knowledge base, in particular by providing examples of good practice in harnessing R&D for SD. Given the level of funding and time allocated to this task, the country studies cannot, however, provide a comprehensive overview of all relevant research. The case studies are utilitarian and pragmatic with the single goal of supporting a dialogue among the project partners.

Each of the case studies gives an overview of RD4SD in a particular country / region. This is preceded by a short discussion of the context within which the research has been designed and funded. The focus is on how RD4SD is being run, funded and organised. While other reviews have looked in some detail at the particular topics that are being funded, the interest in the VISION RD4SD case studies is less on lists of topics and more on the kinds of research that are being funded that can contribute to transitions to sustainability.

Focus on science-policy framework

In other words: These are not case studies on the science of Sustainability Science but on suitable science - policy frameworks and modi operandi of Science for Sustainable Development. Furthermore, the case studies highlight examples of research that are “implementation-oriented”, meaning that they aim to go beyond analysis and lead to action “on the ground”. How is such research designed, funded and carried out? Where are examples of good practice to be found? What are the supporting factors for this kind of research?

Taken together the 9 case studies provide both an indication of the specific character of RD4SD in the different countries or regions as well as a knowledge platform. On the basis of this platform, the VISION RD4SD project can begin to make more detailed and critical analyses of the design and funding of RD4SD and use this in the development of a common vision and a roadmap into the future, in which research, development and innovation truly, consistently and broadly contribute to the solution of persistent problems of unsustainability.

The first Envisioning workshop 1-2 February 2012 will take place in Brussels. Venue and programme will follow. Interested in participating please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Targets of the Scoping 2 workshop

• Clarify what we are talking about -> country and regional case studies / examples
• Set the framework for further work -> Knowledge base for visioning the future of RD4SD
• Develop shared perceptions on the current state of efforts to harness RD4SD
• Discuss the overall context within which this harnessing takes place
• Identify concrete chances for ‘better’ RD4SD in the Member States and on EU level

Want to attend? If you have not recieved an invitation contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it at Formas

There are possibilities for partners, observers and others to be reimbursed.

Criteria for reimbursement

Attachments:

VISION RD4SD Programme Scope 2.pdf

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Work on the VISION case studies is progressing. These case studies are meant to give an overview of the state of the art of current research and development for sustainability. Main questions to be answered are: how is research and development for sustainability being organised and funded, and who is involved in the agenda setting of research and development for sustainability ?

Case studies are conducted in the UK, France, the Netherlands, Germany, Sweden and Switzerland. Furthermore, the situation at EU level is being investigated, as well as Southern Europe and Eastern Europe. These case studies will serve as input into the second VISION RD4SD scoping meeting (24-25 October 2011). Best practices as well as failures will be discussed in order to get an idea of the current gaps and options for improvement.

The VisionRD4SD Core Working Group has prepared a response to the EU Green Paper "From Challenges to Opportunities: Towards a Common Strategic Framework for EU Research and Innovation funding". This feedback has been developed during the VISION RD4SD kick-off workshop in March 2011. It has been fed into the official consulting process for the development of the next EU Common Strategic Framework.

VISION RD4SD Green Paper Feedback