As currently illustrated by the COVID-19 pandemic and the substantial involvement of science in informing policy responses, robust and better connected science for policy eco-systems in Europe are essential for creating better prepared and resilient societies and institutions across all governance levels in Europe.

Mark Ferguson, Chief Scientific Adviser to the Irish Government, shared his vast experience in advising the national government during a dedicated JRC workshop with colleagues from across Europe. He was not the only expert bringing Irish good practice into the debate, which included input from science advisors to national academies, public research institutes, and citizen science. Brian Norton, Policy and International Relations Secretary of the Royal Irish Academy, presented his organisation's activity in a workshop on the role of academies of science in science advisory ecosystems.