Citizen Engagement Through Social Economy Organisations: A New Way of Shaping Meaningful Research

Citizen engagement is reshaping the way research and innovation are conceived across Europe. More and more, projects recognise that meaningful dialogue with citizens is not an accessory but the starting point for building knowledge that is relevant, applicable and socially grounded. At the centre of this shift are social economy organisations, whose daily work with communities positions them as natural connectors between people’s lived realities and the research processes that aim to address them.

When citizens are invited to contribute from the very beginning, research gains depth and direction. Their observations, concerns and everyday experiences help identify priorities that might otherwise remain unseen. Instead of focusing solely on abstract or generalised challenges, research begins to reflect concrete situations faced in neighbourhoods, workplaces, homes and community spaces. This direct connection strengthens the sense of purpose behind each project and ensures that the questions posed truly resonate with those affected by the issues under study.

Social economy organisations play a decisive role in making this engagement possible. Their long-standing relationships in the community allow them to notice nuances, listen to concerns and understand what motivates people to participate. They help translate research concepts into formats that feel accessible, and they build the trust needed for citizens to share their perspectives openly. Through them, participation becomes more than a one-off activity; it becomes a continuous dialogue that accompanies the entire research journey.

Involving citizens throughout the different stages of research also brings invaluable benefits. When people participate in shaping the initial research questions, research projects start from a clearer understanding of local needs. When they help co-design activities, they make the process more inclusive and easier to engage with. When they share knowledge or data, they offer information inherently rooted in lived experience and insights that often provide context that scientific methods alone cannot capture. And when they reflect on research results, they highlight implications that guide practical, community-informed decision-making.

Trust is the thread that holds this process together. Citizens participate more fully when they can tangibly recognise their contribution, when communication is transparent and when they see how their voices influence outcomes. Social economy organisations help maintain this trust by ensuring that the engagement process respects cultural and social contexts, and by creating spaces where people feel that their perspectives matter. This sense of shared purpose strengthens the legitimacy of research and supports the adoption of its results by those who can benefit from them the most.

As research ecosystems evolve, citizen engagement is becoming not only desirable but essential. The involvement of social economy organisations broadens participation, brings diverse experiences to the forefront and ensures that research reflects the complexity of real communities. By integrating community knowledge with scientific expertise, projects become more inclusive, more responsive, and ultimately more capable of generating lasting social impact.

In this new landscape, citizen engagement is not simply a methodology, it is a way of shaping research that acknowledges the value of those who live the challenges being studied. With the support of social economy organisations, citizen engagement becomes a powerful force for producing knowledge that is meaningful, grounded and truly connected to the everyday realities of society.

Agostina Blanchi & Mireia Ros - Science For Change