Join SAPEA (Science Advice for Policy by European Academies) and the Federation of European Academies of Medicine (FEAM) for an interactive workshop exploring how academies and organisations working at the science–policy interface identify, assess and prioritise topics for science advice.

European academies are increasingly operating in an environment shaped by rapidly evolving policy priorities, societal change and growing demand for timely, evidence-informed advice. With limited resources and different institutional mandates, organisations need to make strategic choices about which emerging issues to explore and how to balance proactive agenda-setting with responding to policy needs.

The workshop will bring together academies, science-for-policy organisations and other relevant actors to share experiences, compare approaches and reflect on good practices in agenda-setting.

Discussions will explore:

• How organisations identify emerging and policy-relevant scientific topics;
• How they balance proactive agenda-setting with responding to policy requests;
• The role of horizon scanning, strategic foresight and stakeholder engagement in shaping priorities;
• How institutional mandates, governance and funding influence topic selection; and
• How organisations can maintain scientific independence, transparency and credibility while remaining responsive to evolving policy and societal needs.

The workshop forms part of a broader SAPEA series designed to promote knowledge exchange, dialogue and collaboration among Europe’s academies and the wider science-for-policy community.

Through sharing different institutional experiences and approaches, the event will provide an opportunity to reflect on how agenda-setting can strengthen the relevance, credibility and impact of science advice.