Workshop Agenda: Public Affairs for NRENs

Theme: Navigating the Digital Landscape: Stakeholder Engagement for National Research and Education Networks (NRENs)
Duration: Two Half-Days (Noon-to-Noon)
Venue: DFN Berlin Office, Berlin, Germany
Dates: January 27th – 28th, 2026

DAY 1: Foundation, Inspiration, and Strategy Initiation
Time	Duration	Topic	Format
13:00 - 13:30	30 min	Welcome, Introduction & Expectations	Opening Round: Participants voice expectations for the workshop
13:30 - 14:30	60 min	KEYNOTE: Public Affairs and Communication in the Digital Age	Mechthild Bülow (Presentation and Q&A)
14:30 - 15:00	30 min	Coffee Break
15:00 - 16:00	60 min	Public Affairs 101: The Lobbying Game & Reputation	Presentation: Introduction to core PA concepts and reputation building (business-oriented perspective). (Hendrik Ike, GÉANT)
16:00 - 17:00	60 min	NREN Public Affairs: European Strategies	Presentations by Selected GÉANT NRENs: Showcasing current national strategies. Followed by a discussion on wide-spectrum PA strategies
17:00 - 17:15	15 min	Case Study Introductions: The Budget Axe (Political Crisis) and The Visual Arts Data Conduit (EU Work Programme Advocacy)	Facilitator presents the fictional scenarios and the task
17:15 - 18:00	45 min	GROUP WORK: Case Study – Initial Strategy Brainstorming
18:00		Close Day 1 Working Session
19:00		Joint Workshop Dinner	Networking Opportunity

DAY 2: Application, Policy Alignment, and Future Focus
Time	Duration	Topic	Format
9:00 - 9:45	45 nub	Day 1 Recap & Finalizing Case Study	Quick recap and instruction for finalizing the lobbying and media campaign strategy
9:45 - 10:30	45 min	Strategy Presentations & Peer Challenge	Group Presentations and Challenge: Participants critique and discuss the proposed PA strategies
10:30 - 10:45	15 min	NRENs in the Digital Agenda; Work Programmes and Calls	Different Work Programmes; HE, CEF, DEP & the Competitiveness Compass. Rates, Rules & Eligibility
10:45 - 11:45	60 min	Interactive discussion on NREN Showcases	Open Discussion
11:45 - 12:45	60 min	Shaping the Future: Discussion of Topics for the SIG Public Affairs and Policy (PA)	Interactive Session: Defining the agenda and focus areas for the SIG Public Affairs and Policy
12:45		Workshop End (Noon-to-Noon)

Date

The meeting will take place on 7 April 2025, hosted by CESNET at Prague, Czech Republic.

Venue/Location

DFN Office

Alexanderplatz 1

10178 Berlin, Germany

Google maps link:

Accommodation/recommended hotels

The list of recommendations:

Remote participation

Will be possible. Details will follow after registration.

Registration

Please register via events.geant.org

For any questions, please email schaefer@dfn.de