Pairing Scheme – Politics meets Research

Overview

In 2016, the FNR, in collaboration with the Luxembourg Parliament, launched its first Researchers-Politicians Pairing Scheme, where researchers and parliamentarians meet in their respective environments to foster a better mutual understanding. Three editions have been organised so far. For the fourth edition in 2024, the concept has been changed. The encounters are now more focused on certain topics.

The old concept: each MP is paired with a researcher and then spend time together. Part of the activities are an official opening ceremony at Parliament, a visit of MPs at the research campus Belval, individual meetings between the pairs and since the last edition an international conference about the relationships between science and politics. In the framework of the programme the FNR also organised together with Parliament a training on how to present scientific evidence to policy makers.

The most important outcome of the project so far – beside the valuable exchanges that took place – is the creation of a research service within Parliament, an idea that was born during the first edition of the Pairing Scheme, depened during the second edition and finally the third edition was organised as collaboration between the FNR and the newly created research service within Parliament.

The new concept now comprises three phases:

• The first phase is the organisation of a “World Café” on 8 March 2024 @Luxembourg’s Parliament. MPs and researchers will discuss together around 6 topics of relevance for both science and politics.
• The second phase (between March 2024 and end of 2024) will consist in the writing of research briefs by selected researchers who participated to the World Café and the research service from Parliament (hereafter called ‘Cellule Scientifique’). These briefs will deal with one of the various topics discussed during the World Café, selected by the MPs. Each research brief resulting from this stage will be further published on the webpage of the Parliament end of 2024.
• The third phase will consist in a conference beginning of 2025, where the publications will be presented to the public in a cosy atmosphere, where researchers, policymakers and society meet and discuss.

For the participating researchers, the FNR will offer trainings on how to engage with policymakers and how to write a research brief, on a voluntary basis. 

How to get involved

Calls for participation for these events are launched annually and communicated via our FNR Info newsletter,  and the FNR’s digital and social media channels.