On 24 March 2026, representatives of the candidate European Partnership on Social Transformations and Resilience (STR), together with key stakeholders from EU institutions, research organisations and the third sector, gathered in Brussels for a dedicated workshop focused on shaping the future portfolio of activities on research impact.

Hosted at the European Commission premises (DG Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion), the workshop aimed to move beyond conceptual discussions and work concretely on how research funded under the future Partnership can better inform public policymaking. Participants were invited to collaboratively assess and prioritise a structured set of proposed activities, while also identifying the conditions necessary for their successful implementation, as well as potential risks and mitigation strategies.

To set the scene, the day opened with a presentation of the Partnership’s Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA), which outlined the overall policy and research framework guiding the initiative. This provided the basis for a more operational discussion on how to translate strategic priorities into concrete actions capable of generating real societal and policy impact.

A central element of the workshop was the presentation of a draft catalogue of 24 activities designed to strengthen the uptake of research evidence in policymaking processes. These activities are the result of preparatory work carried out over the past months, combining desk research with the outcomes of an online stakeholder workshop held in January 2026, which engaged more than 100 participants. While the desk research mapped existing practices, projects and relevant literature, the January workshop provided valuable insights into stakeholders’ roles, needs and challenges in evidence-informed policymaking.

Building on this foundation, participants worked across four main clusters of activities.

• Knowledge Exchange Programme for funded projects, conceived as a strategic mechanism to transform research results into actionable knowledge, fostering continuous interaction among projects and enhancing their collective impact.
• Additional Funding Instruments, designed to complement core project funding with flexible and targeted resources, enabling the translation of research into tangible social and policy outcomes through tailored interventions.
• Knowledge Exchange with policymakers, focusing on structured and sustained engagement between researchers and policymakers, moving beyond traditional dissemination towards co-creation processes that respond directly to policy needs.
• Training and Capacity Building, aimed at strengthening the skills and capabilities of researchers to engage effectively with policy processes, ensuring that impact becomes an integral and practical component of research activities.

Throughout the day, participants were invited not only to review and prioritise the proposed activities, but also to critically reflect on their feasibility, scalability and long-term sustainability. Particular attention was given to identifying enabling conditions—such as governance structures, incentives and resources—as well as potential risks that could hinder implementation.

The workshop concluded with a plenary session where moderators presented key insights from each group, enabling a cross-cutting discussion and an initial convergence on priorities. This collective reflection marked an important step towards refining the portfolio of activities that will underpin the STR Partnership.

Overall, the event confirmed a strong shared commitment among STR candidate partners to bridge the gap between research and policymaking. By co-creating a structured and actionable portfolio of activities, the future STR Partnership is positioning itself to play a key role in ensuring that research on social transformations effectively contributes to more resilient, inclusive and evidence-informed policies across Europe.