ZENTRUM FUR SOZIALE INNOVATION GMBH

Their core work

ZSI is a Vienna-based research centre specializing in the social dimensions of science, technology, and innovation policy. They design and evaluate frameworks for responsible research and innovation (RRI), citizen science, and science-society engagement across Europe and beyond. Their practical work includes building platforms for public participation in research, advising on gender equality in research organizations, and facilitating international science diplomacy and STI cooperation — particularly with Eastern Partnership, Black Sea, and Latin American countries. They bridge the gap between research policy and societal impact, helping institutions make science more open, inclusive, and publicly accountable.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In 2014-2018, ZSI focused heavily on international STI policy dialogue and bilateral cooperation frameworks — projects like BLACK SEA HORIZON, BILAT USA 4.0, INCOBRA, and EaP PLUS made them a go-to partner for EU external science cooperation. From 2019 onward, the emphasis shifted decisively toward citizen science, open science, gender, and co-creation — with citizen science alone appearing in five recent projects. The RRI thread runs throughout, but its expression evolved from policy-level frameworks to hands-on public participation tools and platforms.

ZSI is moving from advising on science policy at the international level toward building practical infrastructure for citizen participation in research and open science — expect them to seek projects combining public engagement with data-driven research methods.

How they like to work

ZSI operates predominantly as an active partner (40 of 53 projects) but has meaningful coordination experience, leading 12 projects including science diplomacy (S4D4C), bioeconomy outreach (BLOOM), and international cooperation initiatives. With 582 unique consortium partners across 79 countries, they function as a network hub — their strength lies in connecting diverse actors across disciplines and borders rather than delivering a narrow technical component. This makes them an ideal partner for projects that need social science integration, public engagement design, or multi-country coordination.

ZSI has worked with 582 distinct organizations across 79 countries, making them one of the most broadly connected social innovation centres in H2020. Their network spans well beyond Europe into Black Sea, Eastern Partnership, Latin American, South African, and US institutions.

What sets them apart

ZSI occupies a rare niche: they are a dedicated research centre for the social dimensions of science and innovation, not a university department or think tank. This means they bring professional, project-ready capacity for RRI, citizen science, and science policy work — without the overhead or competing priorities of a large academic institution. Their global STI diplomacy network (79 countries) combined with hands-on experience in public engagement tools makes them uniquely suited for projects that need to connect research with society across borders.

Highlights from their portfolio

• S4D4C
  Coordinated a flagship science diplomacy project (EUR 507K) addressing how science can serve international relations — a rare and politically significant research area.
• NewHoRRIzon
  Their largest single project (EUR 686K) and a major EU-wide initiative to embed responsible research and innovation across all Horizon 2020 programme lines.
• BLOOM
  Coordinated a transdisciplinary project (EUR 497K) merging bioeconomy awareness with arts, formal education, and co-creation — showcasing their ability to bridge science and public culture.