The Danish Centre for Studies in Research and Research Policy (CFA) is an interdisciplinary social science centre located at the Department of Political Science at Aarhus University. CFA works with a number of issues related to research and innovation systems. The centre has extensive experience with EU funded projects and has over the years been a partner in numerous big consortia (see list here). CFA conducts extensive research within many topics that are increasingly required in EU projects and similar projects across all fields. These topics include research ethics and integrity, impact evaluation, stakeholder engagement, co-creation, gender equality policies and practices, and the integration of gender dimension in research content.

CFA frequently collaborates with research groups from other disciplines on, for example, projects involving new technologies where a social science perspective is also needed. CFA has in particular experience leading tasks and work packages on:

• Stakeholder engagement processes. CFA has extensive experience with stakeholder mapping and the design, facilitation and execution of various stakeholder engagement processes. This includes citizen involvement, stakeholder consultation and citizen science to ensure that all relevant stakeholders are effectively included. Our expertise encompasses a range of methods such as individual interviews, focus group interviews, deliberations, expert workshops, mini-publics, social labs etc.
   
• Innovation.  CFA has experience working with innovation ecosystems and research and innovation development processes. This includes conceptual work, case-based studies and quantitative analyses, with a growing focus on innovation in green technologies.
   
• Evaluations, including internal evaluation in the project or external evaluation. CFA has extensive expertise in both internal project evaluation, as well as evaluations of e.g. various funding schemes and or research programs. We specialize in mixed methods approaches to evaluation and assessment, combining e.g. narrative or empowerment evaluation with quantitative assessment of goal attainment. CFA can assist in both the development of relevant indicators as well as collection of data for midterm or end-stage evaluation.
   
• Impact studies, including Bibliometric studies. CFA has access to high quality, comprehensive publication data to assess scientific and policy impact of research, and frequently uses bibliometric analysis to provide insights to researchers, funders, and research managers. In addition to impact studies, we provide statistical analyses of text material (e.g. thematic mappings), collaboration networks, and other quantitative studies of publication data.
   
• Research Integrity (RI) and Research Ethics (RE). CFA has worked in several EU funded and national projects on responsible conduct of research (RCR) including RI and RE issues, and e.g. covering a range of issues including trust in science, the implementation of RI practices and policies at research performing and funding organisations and the ethical implications of emerging bio-medical technologies. Through this work, CFA has gained extensive experience in co-creating guidelines, developing policy recommendations and producing training materials. This typically involves comprehensive stakeholder engagement processes to ensure that all relevant voices are heard and that the products produced are relevant and straightforward to implement.
   
• Gender, Diversity and Inclusion.  CFA has extensive expertise in conducting interdisciplinary research aimed at understanding and promoting gender, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) actions across society, with a focus on research and innovation (R&I). Drawing on insights gained from various European projects, our research helps policymakers, managers, and practitioners adopt evidence-based strategies for designing, implementing, and assessing workplace policies and practices. CFA offers customized guidance, training, and recommendations to help organizations develop and implement EDI programs, ultimately improving the quality and impact of R&I activities.