SPARKS & CO

Their core work

SPARKS & CO is a Paris-based consultancy specializing in science communication, public engagement, and responsible research and innovation (RRI). They help research consortia bridge the gap between scientific work and society — handling tasks like public engagement strategy, gender-sensitive communication, informed consent design, and governance frameworks. Their project portfolio spans both technical health research (diagnostics, stem cells, nanotherapy) and dedicated RRI/science-in-society initiatives, indicating they serve as the societal engagement arm within larger research teams.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

SPARKS & CO's early H2020 involvement (2015-2016) was embedded in technical health projects — point-of-care diagnostics, stem cell organoids, and regenerative medicine — likely handling dissemination and public engagement within these consortia. By 2017, they shifted strongly toward dedicated RRI and governance projects (FIT4RRI, I-CONSENT), while still maintaining a presence in health-oriented research (NEW DEAL). This evolution suggests a deliberate move from being a communications subcontractor in health projects toward positioning as an RRI and societal engagement specialist.

Moving toward dedicated responsible innovation and science-society governance work, likely positioning for Horizon Europe's growing emphasis on public engagement and ethics integration.

How they like to work

SPARKS & CO operates exclusively as a participant — never coordinating — which is consistent with a specialist contributor brought into consortia for specific expertise in communication, engagement, or RRI. Their relatively modest funding shares (averaging EUR 77K per project) confirm they handle defined work packages rather than leading technical research. With 64 unique partners across 21 countries, they connect broadly rather than deeply, suggesting they are sought after by diverse consortia rather than locked into a single network.

Extensive network of 64 unique partners spanning 21 countries, reflecting their role as a go-to specialist brought into diverse consortia. Their reach across both health-technical and society-focused projects gives them unusual cross-domain connectivity.

What sets them apart

SPARKS & CO occupies a niche that few SMEs fill well: they combine hands-on experience in technical health research consortia with deep expertise in responsible innovation and science-society engagement. This dual fluency means they can translate complex biomedical research into public-facing narratives while also designing governance and ethics frameworks. For consortium builders needing to strengthen their project's societal impact dimension, SPARKS & CO brings both the conceptual RRI knowledge and the practical communication skills.

Highlights from their portfolio

• LSFM4LIFE
  Largest single funding (EUR 133K) in a cutting-edge stem cell organoid project for type 1 diabetes cell therapy — shows capacity to operate in advanced biomedical contexts.
• FIT4RRI
  Directly addresses training tools for responsible research and innovation — represents the firm's core strategic positioning in RRI.
• DIAGORAS
  Point-of-care diagnostics project combining lab-on-a-chip technology with antibiotic resistance detection — demonstrates ability to engage with complex health technology topics.