
Call for Tracks
Please note: the call for tracks and special sessions for the Eu-SPRI 2023 Conference is closed. Keep reading for information on the conference theme 'Research with Impact.' Information on the Call for Abstracts (now closed), including Tracks and Special Sessions, can be viewed here.
In recent years, Science, Technology & Innovation policy globally has increasingly focused on ensuring that researchers engage with wider stakeholders to deliver positive economic impact and address societal challenges. This reflects the growing societal expectations placed on research and innovation, and increased concerns about how well research systems are aligned with the changing needs of society. Demand for research with impact has generated changes in how research is funded, evaluated, organized and disseminated.
There are associated changes in the nature of knowledge production too, with new forms of inter-disciplinary, cross-organisational collaborations and knowledge exchange processes being supported. Demands to support research with impact create new challenges for researchers and STI policy makers, and raises new questions for STI policy researchers. Eu-SPRI 2023 will be a venue for exploration of these questions amongst international colleagues.
In addressing this year’s conference theme, Research with Impact, we will explore a range of issues including:
1. How is impact from research defined, and what kinds of research generate impact?
2. How do societies support the research needed to generate economic, environmental and societal change?
3. How can research funders influence the generation of impact?
4. What are the characteristics and behaviours that enable researchers to best achieve impact from their work?
5. How are research findings translated for stakeholders, received by them and used?
6. How are research and impact evaluated?
7. How can STI policy researchers achieve impact with their own research?
We invite proposals for tracks and special (stand-alone) sessions on the above themes and others that relate to Research with Impact. We also invite proposals for sessions on a broad range of established and emerging STI policy themes as well as those related to Research with Impact.
The following are examples of subject matter that could form the basis of a track/session proposal:
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The roles of STI policy practitioners in delivering change
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Comparative analysis of STI policy and performance
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The effectiveness of different funding mechanisms, behaviours and institutional arrangements
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Innovation systems: from concept to research methods
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Changing patterns of innovation across industry and the service sectors
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The politics and governance of STI policy and responsible innovation
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New approaches for impact evaluation in STI policy
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Reproducible research and the changing governance of science
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Emerging technologies
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Data policy and data intensive research
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Globalization and the geography of knowledge and innovation
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International collaborations and the (de) globalization of STI
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Methodologies of transdisciplinary collaborations for impactful research
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Research for systemic transformations
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Researching digital transformations and digitalisation
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Research ethics and impact
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Transformations and impact: the role of universities
Proposals for tracks may include different types of sessions such as full or early-stage research paper sessions, debates, policy dialogue sessions and/or a mixture of these. Tracks/sessions can be proposed by (at least) two organizers.
Those selected for the conference will be asked to provide guidance for participants applying through the conference ‘Call for Papers’, and then support the conference organizers and the international scientific committee in reviewing the papers and organizing their track or special session. Proposals can be brief (~500 words, with a title, the organisers’ details, and the session/track description).
Proposal submission:
Please submit your proposal for a track and special session by emailing it to: EuSPRI2023@sussex.ac.uk no later than 24th October 2022. Organisers will be notified of the acceptance of their proposals prior to the opening of the Call for Papers.