Research organizations in the spatial sciences face a demanding and changing context, characterized by multiple tensions and significant uncertainty. Increasingly, researchers are also asked to provide policy advice through method-driven processes, rather than ad hoc. In this policy advice context, the paper focuses on a specific tension: strategic planning and developing policy-oriented projects. Until now, little is known about how non-university research organizations deal with this tension as regards providing policy advice in the spatial sciences. Therefore, the paper analyzes the strategy development of the Leibniz Institute of Ecological Urban and Regional Development (IOER) in Dresden. Both authors are affiliated to the IOER. Hence, the paper is written from an insider perspective based on scientific concepts such as strategic planning. The paper analyzes project examples that refer to climate change adaptation in cities and regions. It shows that challenges, aims and practices of policy advice are important components of IOER's explicit strategy. The project examples show that projects with the aim of policy advice are implemented in various forms and with significant diversity in terms of strengths and weaknesses. Therefore, the paper argues for the development of project portfolios at the strategic planning level of research organizations in order to consider challenges and aims of policy advice in the spatial sciences.
Hutter, G; Otto, A
Spatial Science and Policy Advice - Project Examples on Climate Change Adaptation in Cities and Regions
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