VIESOJI ISTAIGA SOCIALINIU INOVACIJU INSTITUTAS

Their core work

The Institute of Social Innovations (SII) is a Lithuanian research centre focused on bridging science and society through participatory research methods and public engagement formats. They specialize in science shops — intermediary structures where civil society groups can bring research questions to academic institutions — and in organizing public science engagement activities such as science cafés, exhibitions, and researchers' nights. Their work connects universities, museums, and community organizations to make research more accessible and responsive to societal needs.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

SII's early H2020 work (2015–2016) centred on broad public engagement — organizing exhibitions, science cafés, and Researchers' Night events that brought science to general audiences. By 2017, they shifted toward a more structured and systemic focus: building the science shops ecosystem, community-based participatory research, and civil society engagement as a sustained practice rather than one-off events. This suggests a move from event-based outreach toward institutionalizing citizen participation in research.

SII is moving from organizing individual public engagement events toward building permanent infrastructure for citizen-driven research through science shops.

How they like to work

SII operates exclusively as a participant, never as coordinator, which is consistent with a smaller research centre contributing specialized knowledge on public engagement and participatory research to larger consortia. With 55 unique partners across 29 countries from just 3 projects, they work in large, pan-European consortia. This breadth of network relative to their project count suggests they are well-connected in the science-society interface community across Europe.

Despite only three projects, SII has collaborated with 55 distinct partners across 29 countries, reflecting their involvement in large pan-European coordination and support actions. Their network spans nearly all EU member states, with particular strength in the science communication and public engagement community.

What sets them apart

SII offers a rare combination: a Lithuanian institution with deep expertise in science shops and community-based participatory research, embedded in a pan-European network of 55 partners across 29 countries. For consortium builders targeting Baltic or Eastern European engagement in science-society projects, SII provides both local expertise and a proven track record in large CSA-format projects. Their strength lies in translating between academic research and civil society needs — a capability increasingly required by Horizon Europe's co-creation mandates.

Highlights from their portfolio

• SciShops.eu
  Their largest project (EUR 172,875) and most thematically focused — building the European science shops ecosystem with a strong participatory research methodology.
• SPARKS
  Pan-European engagement project covering science cafés, exhibitions, and science shops, linking health innovation topics like frugal innovation with public participation.