Transformative Change Cluster conference showcases network-building in BioAgora

The recent conference “Mainstreaming Biodiversity in Policy-Making” was collaboratively organised by nine members of the Transformative Change Cluster of EU-funded projects of which BioAgora is a member. The event took place between 4 and 5 June 2025 in the Belgian capital of Brussels, following directly from a workshop organised for the Cluster at the premises of the European Commission on 3 June.

For this conference, BioAgora collaborated with fellow projects CLEVER, BioValue, RAINFOREST, BAMBOO, Bedrock, BIONEXT, BIOTraCes and TRANSPATH. Together, they aimed to foster dialogues uncovering actionable knowledge in support of the biodiversity science-policy-society interface (SPSI). Their efforts drew participants from decision-making and research institutions, the business sector and civil society, both in-person and online. Consequently, meaningful discussions took place on how biodiversity and its associated themes are supposed to be accounted for in EU policy on a more permanent basis.

On 4 June, BioAgora contributed to this agenda with an interactive showcase titled “Future Knowledge Agora to Support Governance of Clustering and Knowledge Exchange Networks”. The topic was presented by project coordinator Kaisa Korhonen-Kurki (SYKE) and Jeanne Nel (WUR). Within the session, participants were introduced to BioAgora’s broad scope and its main objective - the establishment of a Science Service for Biodiversity (SSBD) in support of policy-making at the European Commission. More specifically, the conversation centred around the expert network-building underpinning the future SSBD - both in the broader Biodiversity Knowledge Agora and in a multitude of thematic Knowledge Exchange Networks. With regards to the latter specifically, the presentation laid out the topical orientation of the seven such Networks already in place - pollination, nature-based solutions, freshwater, multifunctional landscapes, marine, monitoring and transformative change.

More information about engaging with the Knowledge Agora can be found on this page. As for the Knowledge Exchange Networks, descriptions of their purpose and activities are provided here.