The Eu-SPRI 2021 conference took place in Oslo in a virtual form from 9th to 11th of June. The European Forum for Studies of Policies for Research and Innovation (Eu-SPRI Forum) aims to strengthen the researchers’ community focusing on interdisciplinary dimensions related to policy and governance in the field of knowledge creation and innovation. This edition, during which occurs the Eu-SPRI 10th Anniversary Conference, was focused on three main themes linked to the complex season we’re leaving because of the COVID-19 emergency that produced many changes in our societies, in the way the citizens’ jobs and lives are managed.
RISIS project organized a sub-plenary on the 9th of June (4 -5.30 pm) entitled RISIS NEW resources for researchers and policymakers: ESID and ISI-Trademark, with the aim to explore the two new Datasets now available for the researchers’ community and policymakers to face societal challenges.
Emanuela Reale, CNR- IRCRES, opened the session illustrating RISIS infrastructure’s main goals and achievements.
ESID, European Social Innovation Database illustrated by Abdullah Gok, University of Strathclyde, utilizes advanced machine learning and natural language processing techniques. RISIS ESID is a comprehensive and authoritative source of information on social innovation projects and actors in Europe and beyond. The main goal: to collect information about social innovation projects and actors from the publicly available information on the web. The advantages and innovative aspects of the new Dataset were explored by Dietmar Lampert, ZSI Centre for Social Innovation in a presentation entitled New social innovation resource for policymakers and researchers: ESID – is it useful?
ISI-Trademark Data Collection (ISI-TM), illustrated by Peter Neuhäusler, Fraunhofer ISI, provides detailed information on trademarks filed at the EUIPO (European Union Intellectual Property Office) and at the USPTO (United States Patent and Trademark Office). It includes information on all trademarks filed at the EUIPO since 1996 and at the USPTO from the early 19th century onwards. Access to RISIS ISI-Trademark Data Collection (ISI-TM), is free of charge and is offered as well as for all RISIS datasets, reachable at the Datasets portal (RISIS CORE FACILITY)
The importance of these new RISIS resources has been further investigated by Eric Iversen, NIFU. The upcoming scenarios getting the most crucial development in the integration of the various RISIS resources have been depicted in the last part of the session by Thomas Scherngell, AIT Austrian Institute of Technology.
Eu-SPRI 2021 will argue and explore three great topics. The first is related to the role of research and innovation in times of crisis. Severe health, economic and other effects of the epidemic are likely to influence science and innovation activities in deep ways. What are the opportunities we can draw in this new season? With more work-from-home and travel limitations, what happens to big science and international projects? Does digitalization of work lead to more open or more vulnerable innovation practices, and how can policymakers best support innovators in this situation? In three intense days, the Eu-SPRI conference will contribute to give answers and explore advantages and criticalities with the participation of many experts and researchers in the field.
The role of impact in re-framing the science-society relationship represents the second great topic of discussion. Many questions are on the table in this very rich edition. Are policies for research excellence and societal impact in conflict? If so, in which ways? Can we develop better frames for communicating with policymakers on these matters? In conclusion, the third theme of the Conference is concerning the role of technology in pushing societal changes and widening the scope of STI (Science, Technology and Innovation) policies in sustainability transitions.
