Category: Joint Research Centre

Transforming Systems Through Innovation Portfolios: A Journey Across Science, Policy, and Practice

Innovation is often seen as the spark of a new idea, but what if the real power lies in the connections that bring those ideas to life? My latest research, now published, delves into the concept of transformative innovation and the role of policy portfolios in driving systemic change.

Drawing on years of collaboration with EIT Climate-KIC, the Joint Research Centre (JRC), and the Transformative Innovation Policy Consortium (TIPC), this paper focuses on the sustainable food sector as a case study. It highlights the importance of “intermediation”—the ability to bridge gaps between science, policy, and practice—to orchestrate innovation ecosystems that can tackle complex challenges.

This work is deeply personal, reflecting the values and experiences I’ve gained from working with inspiring colleagues and organizations. It also builds on the narrative we developed in the EIT Climate-KIC/JRC handbook Co-creation for policy, emphasizing the need for collaboration across sectors and disciplines.

As we face urgent global challenges, I hope this research inspires others to explore the transformative potential of innovation portfolios. Together, we can create the frameworks needed for a more sustainable and equitable future.

Original manuscript:

Author Manuscript_Systemic intermediation for transformative research and innovation policy Bodnick et al 2025Descarga

This is an original manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in Innovation: The European Journal of Social Science Research on 12 March, available at: https://doi.org/10.1080/13511610.2024.2444535

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Foresight as a catalyst for systemic change and co-creation in public policy

Unfolding world events have made policymakers realise that the capacity to act needs to be built according to a long-term perspective under complex and uncertain conditions. This has led
to a rapid increase in the application of strategic foresight to policymaking at all levels of governance.

This paper examines the role of foresight in supporting public policy through inclusive co-creation processes in the face of the systemic change needed to engage in the long term transition towards sustainability. It explains briefly how to master the diverse foresight resources available to make
policy design more systemic and better able to mobilise multiple actors in a coordinated way.

Link to the publication HERE

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Redefining the Role of STI Policy in Achieving Just Sustainability Transitions

I had the privilege of participating in an insightful panel organised by OECD with a very diverse group of speakers to address this challenging topic : Jessica Ambler, Henrik Larsen, Mikael Román, Dmitry Plekhanov,Guillermo Anlló, and Ana Persic.

We we explored recommendations, guidelines or tools recently deployed to support relevant stakeholders in guiding the development of STI activities and outputs to prepare for and respond to global systemic threats. Exchanges between panelists and with the audience might focus on unpacking:

– Whether the scientific process and modern STI policy are well-equipped to support the realisation of just and inclusive sustainability transitions.

– The roles that IOs, specifically, can play in promoting and informing (transformative STI and STI policy reforms to enable transitions.

– Good practice and lessons learned through practical experience of supporting STI and STI policy in contributing to transitions.

The most critical challenges to mobilising STI to contribute to sustainability transitions and how IOs can help to overcome them.

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Co-creation for policy and Strategic foresight to build societal resilience

I had the privilege of participating in an insightful webinar organised by FUTURESILIENCE where we explored the dynamic areas of foresight and co-creation in policy development. It provides insights into the work of the JointResearchCentre EU Science, Research and Innovation to produce actionable knowledge to support a multi-stakeholder setting to steer the transformation process towards a sustainable future.

📖 See more about the publications here:
– Co-Creation for Policy Here
– Towards a fair and sustainable Europe 2050: Social and economic choices in sustainability transitions Here

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Towards a fair and sustainable Europe 2050: Social and economic choices in sustainability transitions

The study explores the interplay between #sustainability #transitions and #foresight to highlight the relevance of the agency of EU actors in shaping Europe’s sustainable future.
As part of an exceptional team including experts from multiple organisations, we delved into the complexities of sustainability transitions, examining how foresight methodologies and evidence-based approaches can guide policy decisions.
This report underscores the urgent need for #transformative policies prioritising sustainability, social equity, and economic prosperity. By leveraging #science and #research, we can drive informed #decisionmaking processes that address the challenges of today and pave the way for a sustainable #Europe by 2050.
I am immensely proud to have contributed to this report, which serves as #actionable  #knowledge for policymakers, researchers, and stakeholders invested in sustainable development.

Download the report Here

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Co-creation for policy: Participatory methodologies to structure multi-stakeholder policymaking processes

This handbook aims at helping its users effectively co-create the robust policies we need today. It combines an entrepreneurial way of thinking and a concrete process for developing breakthrough ideas with a high chance of producing real-world impact. It presents a practitioner-oriented narrative for designing and implementing innovative participatory processes and workshops to address societal challenges – coordinated by policy-makers and with the active engagement of key stakeholders. It applies tried and tested self-organisation and design thinking principles for co-creation.

Download the handbook Here

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Co-creation for Policy Tuner. Bringing design for policy into practice


I am delighted to share the new application of “the Tuner” from the EU Science, Research and Innovation and EIT – European Institute of Innovation and TechnologyClimate-KIC “Co-creation for Policy” handbook. The Tuner, a new online tool for co-creation, has been co-designed in collaboration with the Transformative Innovation Policy Consortium

Tool: https://lnkd.in/gg7Jismt

JRC Handbook: https://lnkd.in/ez_jXB6n

#sustainability#innovation#science#cocreation

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A Game for All Seasons: Lessons and Learnings from the JRC’s Scenario Exploration System

In this paper, I explored with several researchers and practitioners the application of foresight methods in a diverse collection of settings.

The European Commission Joint Research Centre’s (JRC) Scenario Exploration System (SES) is a foresight gaming system developed to facilitate the application of futures thinking to policy-making. It was originally geared at engaging EU policy-makers with scenarios in a facilitated process with a low learning curve.

Specifically, the SES was designed to help participants, in less than three hours, to engage in systemic thinking with a long-term perspective and to explore alternative futures on specific issues and themes. When applied in various contexts, the SES proved to have a broader range of applications, which led to communities of practice emerging around the tool.

One of the cases included in the paper is the application of SES in the EIT Climate-KIC project Climate Mitigation Fund where we addressed the challenges of facilitating a horizontal problem-solving process by combining knowledge from public authorities, SMEs and experts to redefine the socio-technical system in which regional climate funds can operate efficiently. Workshops in Bologna and Frankfurt applied visual tools created by the Transitions Hub for easing negotiation of complex issues.

Link to the paper

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