Co-creation as an innovative setting to improve the uptake of scientific knowledge: overcoming obstacles, understanding considerations and applying enablers to improve scientific impact in society

Abstract

Impact-driven research is a EU priority and, increasingly, for universities around Europe. Still, there is need for specific strategies to improve the societal impact of scientific knowledge and therewith improve the uptake of scientific results. Co-creation deeply evolves the role of scientific knowledge and increases its impact. Albeit there is much research on the conceptualization and contextualization of co-creation, research on the microlevel dynamics of co-creation is less common. This article aims to understand the dynamics of and clarify the role of co-creation within and between quadruple helix actors (academia, government, industry and societal partners). Here, co-creation refers to the collaboration, where such actors actively join forces to address challenges. This paper revolves around insights from the European Commission Horizon 2020-project—Accomplissh (www.accomplissh.eu) which stands for “Accelerate co-creation by setting up a multi-actor platform for impact from Social Sciences and Humanities”. The results lay bare a set of obstacles, areas of consideration and enablers in co-creation. This said, it is argued that scientific knowledge is optimally utilized when a set of guidelines or recommendations are followed and carried out by all involved actors.

Beyond Open Access: Conceptualizing Open Science for Knowledge Co-creation

“…The academic literature is more concerned with collaborations with industry (European Commission, 2021a). In general, research on cocreation through OS initiatives focuses on conceptualization rather than on deconstructing the collaboration dynamics between researchers, civil society, government, and industry (Stier and Smit, 2021). Aguinis et al (2020) used motivation theory to explain why there is a gap between the knowledge and practical application of OS and concluded that the perceived costs of openness are currently higher than the benefits.…”

The time of dialogic sociology

“…This transformation has focused on social impact and co-creation, achieving relevant results for science and society (Girbes et al, 2022). The new Horizon Europe program aims to achieve and demonstrate to citizens that investment in scientific evidence has a clear return on improving the living conditions of societies (Stier and Smit, 2021). In 2010, the EC organized a large conference titled ‘Science against Poverty’ (EC, 2012).…”

Four-step approach to idea management sequencing: redefining or reinventing values in a business model

“…Within this study, we combine the principles of the action research with the IM as they are closely related and foresee the active involvement of participants in the co-creation (Stier & Smit, 2021 ) and the ideation process (Hesmer et al, 2011 ; Meslec et al, 2020 ) of new values. This methodological approach allows better knowledge valorisation (Stier & Smit, 2021 ) to utilise the academic knowledge within the co-creation of the value innovation by application of IM methods.…”