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