Preamble

“Living Knowledge” is the network of (persons or organisations involved in) Science Shops and similar organisations active in public engagement and involvement of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in Research & Innovation (R&I), and those who support those activities.

A ‘Science Shop’ is an entity that provides independent, participatory research support in response to concerns expressed by civil society. The use of the term ‘science’ here is in its broadest sense, incorporating social and human sciences, as well as natural, physical, engineering and technical sciences.

The Living Knowledge Network ...

… pursues the idea of public engagement with, and participation in, all levels of the research and innovation process:

generating research ideas, questions, and agendas; participation in monitoring, steering, advising on or performing research;
data collection, data analysis or scenario development;
co-creation of knowledge with the aim of contributing to social change.
It promotes to be the European contact for institutions and organisations that wish to act in the field of Public Engagement in Research, particularly by setting up international projects.

… promotes an open dialogue and debate between science and civil society.

It provides scientific knowledge for citizens in an open, action-oriented and participatory way
It brings civil society issues and interests to the scientific discussion
It promotes the co-creation of knowledge among Civil Society Organisations and researchers.

… aims to promote:

open debate of major societal challenges and knowledge exchange between civil society and research;
public understanding of science and technology and, likewise, promote the understanding of the public by those in research and innovation;
facilitate co-operation among Science Shops, universities, community-based research organisations and related institutions in Europea nd worldwide, and civil society and its organisations;
developing participatory research activities;
responsible research and innovation (RRI) among researchers and in institutions of higher education and research.

Within this framework, Living Knowledge has the following aims:

to promote Civil Society’s co-operation with universities and research institutes and organisations to support the aims of Living Knowledge
to propose, organise and support international participatory projects, conferences, seminars, courses;
to encourage and facilitate staff exchanges between member institutions and organisations in the form of training periods and study leaves for professionals, researchers and students, or through Summer Schools and similar;
to have strategic impact on research and innovation policies, especially on the international level.