The University of Deusto
The University of Deusto is a hub of 37 research teams working at the University’s six faculties (Psychology and Education, Social Sciences and Humanities, Engineering, Law, Economics and Business Administration, and Theology) in three different campuses: Bilbao, San Sebastian and Madrid.
Since its foundation, in 1886, the University has undertaken a strong intersectoral and internationalisation strategy that has facilitated and multiplied its societal engagement opportunities. This strategy is based on strong networking with key institutions and stakeholders across Europe and beyond, and on the quality of the results and the impact of its research and educational endeavours. Today the University of Deusto participates in a large number of research collaborative projects funded by the European Commission (such as FP7, Horizon 2020, Structural Funds), is part of a wide number of international networks and has signed multiple cooperation agreements with universities and research centres all over the world.
The Interdisciplinary Research Platform Strengthening Participation
The Strengthening Participation Platform is an interdisciplinary vehicle that teams up experts from various Faculties, Deusto Business School and the Basque Institute of Competitiveness ORKESTRA, to foster cooperation and advance research and innovation to strengthen civic participation and promote socio-economic transformations for regional development, inclusion and growth.
The research and innovation work of the platform is based on the strengths of the different teams and individual researchers as well as on the participation related needs that have been identified both locally and internationally. It works in close collaboration and co-creation with social agents and intends to support the involvement of all societal players (researchers, citizens, policy makers, business, not for profit organisations, …) in the public space, being in its political or socio-economic dimensions.
More specifically, the Strengthening Participation Platform aims at promoting European democratic values by supporting research and innovation activities addressing:
- Citizens’ participation in the policy-making process at different governance levels (community, regional, state, European and global). Platform researchers analyse the role of political parties, elections and interest groups and work on the most recent developments in terms of political communication and social media, public policy innovation and new concepts of public administration based on ICT and big data technologies.
- Citizens’ involvement in socio-economic development and regional competitiveness. Platform researchers are actively involved in research and innovation activities helping promoting business-friendly environments, family business and social entrepreneurship. They look at corporate social responsibility, the role of SMEs, cluster policies and public-private partnerships in local and regional development and competitiveness.
The Interdisciplinary Platform on Strengthening Participation is fully aligned with EU’s Smart Specialisation Strategy and very well placed to tackle the societal priorities as expressed in the current Horizon 2020 - Research and Innovation Framework Programme, both in Challenge 6 - Europe in a changing world –Inclusive, innovative and reflective societies and in Science With and For Society work programmes.
Besides, the Interdisciplinary Research Platform is strongly aligned with the University’s core mission and commitment to society, to further advance in the knowledge and work towards a more just and better society. In that sense, special attention is paid to groups in a vulnerable position (youth, unemployed, elderly people, women,…) in reinforcement of the work already undertaken by other Interdisciplinary Platforms, such as the Social Justice and Inclusion and the Gender Platforms.