A look back at our panel event

Enriching policy with academic-driven advocacy: how to bridge the gap?

Discussion at the Maastricht University Brussels Hub with Prof. Christine Neuhold and EPPA Partner Vicky Marissen

What an insightful lunch talk we had on Monday! We brought together perspectives from both academia and policy practitioners, highlighting the evolving relationship between the two and identifying opportunities for more effective collaboration. For those who couldn't attend, we've summarised a few key takeaways:

1. Shifting Roles and perceptions of academia (Christine Neuhold)

Need for repositioning: academia is redefining its role, moving beyond purely traditional goals such as publications and funding acquisition, and embracing societal impact such as collaboration with policy-makers. This is something that Maastricht University promotes as part of the Recognition and Rewards programme. It is an invitation to the research community to reach out to society, including policymakers, while knowing that they will be rewarded for it. 

Changing landscape: high-quality academic research is fact-driven, neutral, and transparent. This allows organisations across the board to use research findings to support their points. While this contributes to bridging the gap between academia and policy, it also comes with the risk that research findings might be misused or misquoted to support political agendas. Researchers willing to contribute to the policy debate might also find opposition from policymakers when evidence does not support the political agenda. This is a risk that researchers need to be aware of. 

Embracing Innovation: AI tools originating from the entrepreneurial sector are now being used to automate research. While not born in academia, they are becoming valuable in modern research processes.

2. Evolution of policy approaches (Vicky Marissen)

Policy process shift: European policymaking increasingly draws on evidence from a wider range of sources — not only academic research, but also information and data provided trade associations, think tanks, and civil society. Stakeholders, wishing to engage in EU policymaking, increasingly realise that it is important to substantiate their positions with credible insights, which universities can provide.

Dialogue is essential: regular and open conversations, like this talk, are key to fostering better cooperation between researchers and public affairs professionals, as ‘unknown is often unloved’. Rather than working in parallel, the two communities benefit from co-creating knowledge and identifying shared priorities.

Methodological thinking, key for researchers as well as stakeholders: the methodological development of public affairs campaigns is sometimes still lacking. Stakeholders can benefit from the highly methodological way of working employed by researchers. Vice versa, researchers can learn from stakeholders as to whom to engage and how to communicate messages to policymakers more clearly.

3. Toward co-creation and mutual respect

Achieving effective academic driven advocacy demands understanding, mutual respect and sustained dialogue.

Both researchers and policymakers stand to gain by recognising each other's contributions and working together toward evidence-informed, impactful policy, without ever losing their specific added value.

Stay tuned for the next event in collaboration with Maastricht University Brussels Hub!