Stories from the EU Policy Lab
Issue 2, July 2025

Complex innovations such as neurotechnologies require an all-of-government approach, working across sectors and policy domains, as well as bringing expertise from different fields of science and policy – just what the EU Policy Lab was set up to do. In this report we identified eight policy areas that could be impacted by emerging applications of neurotechnologies: from consumer protection, to health, fundamental rights, education and even defence.

What does it really mean to practice design for policy at the European level? Over the past few months, this question has been at the heart of our reflections at the EU Policy Lab. We have decided to post a series of blog posts on the topic, based on conversations we had with people across the continent and beyond, at conferences, workshops and in the mundane weekly life at the Lab.

Traditional approaches to disaster preparedness have often relied on the assumption that if people are informed about risks, they will act to protect themselves. Yet, evidence suggests that this is rarely the case. People require knowledge about what to do, as well as the motivation to act. Even when well-informed, people may still fail to take appropriate action. This gap between knowledge and action is where behavioural insights prove invaluable.

As European education systems increasingly embrace digital innovation, integrating AI into the classroom holds promise and raises essential questions. This is why we set out to understand how Large Language Model-based chatbots can help pupils in mathematics and other subjects, and whether they facilitate long-term learning and critical reflection.

Between research, consultations, workshops and art exhibitions, it has been a full spring here at the EU Policy Lab. We are delighted to provide a sneak peek into some of the results of the scoping phase which has yielded valuable insights and lessons that could shape the future of policymaking in Europe.

What happens when policymakers and designers come together to rethink how we shape the future? At the User First conference in Amsterdam and through ongoing conversations across Europe, we explored how designing at different governance levels can inform, challenge, and transform our collective European public design practice.

The Signal Cards are ideal for situations where you want to expand thinking, foster imagination and explore different potential futures. Start your workshop with a quick exercise to find relevant signals of change for your topic, challenge the common perspective or think about the culminating effects various signals might create together.

Future-oriented policymaking is not about "predicting” what comes next, but an approach that equips institutions to look beyond immediate pressures, actively explore alternative futures, and develop policies that are robust, inclusive, and adaptable. Find out how we are helping to mainstream it in the EU.