Project

European Community of Practice for Experimentation

Setting the stage for an R&I-wide community of experimental actors in the EU

Following our previous work with the European Commission to promote policy experimentation, we are excited to announce a new project funded by the European Commission (Directorate-General for Research and Innovation – DG RTD) to further promote policy experimentation across R&I policy area.

Building directly on projects like the recent Policy Experimentation project and the INNOSUP-06-2018 initiative, we are embarking on a new initiative to implement preparatory actions to establish a new Community of Practice (CoP) for policy experimentation within the European Union’s Research and Innovation (R&I) landscape.

The urgency for impactful and evidence-informed R&I policy in Europe has never been greater. Faced with challenges like the ongoing economic repercussions of global crises, the climate emergency, and the pressing need for digital and green transitions, the EU needs R&I policies that deliver transformative change and boost competitiveness. Policy experimentation, using methods like Randomised Controlled Trials (RCTs), offers a powerful way to identify which policy actions truly work best.

This new project is dedicated to laying the groundwork for this vital Community of Practice. Over the coming months, we will undertake a series of preparatory actions to:

Identify and engage key stakeholders: Establish a solid foundation for the CoP by identifying and engaging relevant stakeholders across the EU Member States and the UK. This will include understanding policymakers’ demand and views on policy experimentation through an experimental survey.
Develop a comprehensive governance structure: Propose a comprehensive governance structure to facilitate effective collaboration and knowledge exchange within the CoP. This will be informed by insights gathered from a field experiment with policy experimentation stakeholders.
Promote policy experimentation practices: Promote and enhance policy experimentation practices across the EU, aligning with the Commission’s strategic priorities and addressing key societal challenges.

This preparatory work will culminate in actionable recommendations for the European Commission on how to launch and nurture a thriving Community of Practice. Ultimately, this CoP will serve as a platform to leverage expertise, pool resources, and foster collaboration amongst European stakeholders. It will be instrumental in driving the wider adoption of policy experimentation, leading to more effective, evidence-informed R&I policies that can truly address Europe’s most pressing challenges and accelerate the green and digital transitions.