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Productive Interactions in a Port City: A Proximity Approach to Coordination in Science-Policy Collaborations

Authors :
Jorrit P. Smit
Hedi Westerduin
Arwin van Buuren
Source :
Evidence & Policy: A Journal of Research, Debate and Practice. 2024 20(3):320-346.
Publication Year :
2024

Abstract

Background: Many different concepts have been invoked in the literature to describe coordination between scientific and policy practices. However, a framework to understand different types of this boundary management is lacking, which allows 'linear' models and 'gap' metaphors to persist. Objectives: To operationalise the multidimensional 'proximity' approach from innovation studies in the context of coordination work between science and policy and employ it in a case study of hybrid research spaces in the port city of Rotterdam. Method: Semi-structured interviews and focus groups with scientists, policymakers and policy researchers involved in collaborative knowledge labs. Findings: Different proximity dimensions can both stimulate and impede productive interactions in collaborations between science and policy actors. There is no uniform mechanism to overcome coordination problems and different knowledge labs use different combinations of proximities. Discussion and conclusions: We conclude that the concepts of cognitive, social, organisational and geographic proximity enable a fine-grained articulation of the balancing act required for successful and enduring collaborative knowledge work between scientists and policymakers. The operationalisation of proximity for structured science-policy interactions led us to the insight that an analytical distinction can be made between "ordering" and "operating" enactments of proximity. Ultimately, we interpret this as two types of politics of knowledge production, and call on policymakers, researchers, and other involved parties to take this into consideration when organising structural knowledge collaborations between research and policy practices.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
1744-2648 and 1744-2656
Volume :
20
Issue :
3
Database :
ERIC
Journal :
Evidence & Policy: A Journal of Research, Debate and Practice
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
EJ1438309
Document Type :
Journal Articles<br />Reports - Research
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1332/17442648Y2023D000000015