From knowledge to action: multilevel governance for territorial development

The session, coordinated by the University of Granada, brought together representatives of the United Nations, the European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC), the Regional Government of Andalusia, Granada City Council and academia.
The discussion explored how scientific knowledge, institutional expertise and community experience can be translated into effective public policies and tangible territorial transformation. Organised around three interconnected dimensions — Knowledge, Governance and Place — the debate highlighted the following key messages.

1. Moving from knowledge production to real-world impact
Knowledge becomes truly valuable when it informs public decisions and improves people's lives. Universities must go beyond producing and disseminating research to ensure that their knowledge contributes to identifying challenges, designing solutions and evaluating public policies.
As Iñigo Arbiol, representing the United Nations Local2030 Coalition, emphasised, “Knowledge becomes useful when it informs decisions that change people's lives.”

2. Connecting different forms of knowledge
Effective policymaking requires combining scientific evidence, administrative data, professional expertise and the lived experiences of communities.
This implies moving from a traditional science for policy approach towards a broader knowledge for policy perspective, where different actors contribute to defining problems and developing solutions, while maintaining scientific rigour.
Universities can play a particularly important role as intermediaries, connecting disciplines, institutions and communities and facilitating the translation of knowledge into actionable insights.

3. Strengthening multilevel governance and institutional collaboration
One of the main challenges is not simply knowing what needs to be done, but developing the institutional capacity to act collectively.
Effective territorial transformation requires cooperation across international, European, regional and local levels, supported by mutual trust, shared responsibilities and long-term institutional commitments.
Collaboration must evolve from isolated projects towards stable ecosystems and infrastructures for cooperation, capable of maintaining relationships, coordinating agendas and generating collective learning beyond individual funding programmes.

4. Placing territories at the centre of innovation and public policy
The discussion highlighted the importance of place-based approaches that recognise the specific needs, capabilities and institutional characteristics of different territories.
As Davide Magagna from the European Commission's JRC stated:
“The place-based dimension is of critical importance in being able to leverage knowledge transfer from knowledge creation at university into application at city level.”
European priorities and policies need to be connected with local realities, allowing cities and regions to adapt, experiment and develop solutions suited to their particular circumstances.
Territories should not simply be recipients of public policies, but active participants in their design and implementation.

5. Creating spaces for experimentation, evaluation and collective learning
Cities and regions can become laboratories for innovation, where universities, public administrations and communities work together to test solutions, evaluate outcomes and adapt policies.
A key challenge is ensuring that successful experiments become sustainable public policies rather than remaining isolated pilot projects.
Evaluation should focus not only on activities or participation figures, but also on tangible improvements in people's lives, stronger institutional capacities and the long-term sustainability of solutions.

6. Learning from international experiences and preserving collective knowledge
The open discussion demonstrated the value of exchanging experiences between different territories and institutional contexts.
María José López Sanfeliú, from the Andalusian Institute of Public Administration, highlighted the richness of the experiences shared, including contributions from Mexico and Ukraine, and the importance of ensuring that this knowledge is captured, connected and made available for future learning.
International forums should generate more than dialogue: they should become opportunities to build lasting knowledge networks, identify transferable practices and establish new institutional partnerships.

7. Universities as strategic partners for territorial transformation
The University of Granada presented its territorial engagement strategy, particularly through Impronta Granada and Impronta Andalucía, as examples of how universities can connect academic capacities with public institutions and societal challenges.
Ana Isabel Agudo, representing Granada City Council, highlighted the ongoing collaboration between the University of Granada and the municipality, particularly in relation to Granada's bid to become European Capital of Culture in 2031.
These experiences illustrate the potential of universities to act as long-term partners in territorial development, contributing research, interdisciplinary expertise, social innovation and institutional continuity.
From the University of Granada's perspective, this represents a broader strategic ambition: localising knowledge for social transformation, ensuring that research and innovation are connected to the real needs, opportunities and aspirations of territories.

Overall conclusion: From dialogue to a shared agenda for action
The session reinforced the importance of building territorial knowledge ecosystems that bring universities, public administrations, businesses and civil society together around shared challenges.
Three complementary principles emerged as a framework for future action:
- KNOWLEDGE: Connect scientific evidence with institutional expertise and community experience to support better public decisions.
- GOVERNANCE: Establish lasting partnerships based on trust, shared responsibilities and the institutional capacity to act collectively.
- PLACE: Adapt policies to territorial realities, promote experimentation and evaluate success through tangible improvements in people's lives.
Looking ahead, the discussion also pointed to the opportunities offered by the next European Multiannual Financial Framework to strengthen long-term institutional capacities, support place-based innovation and foster cooperation across governance levels.
The central message is clear: transforming knowledge into action requires more than research or funding. It requires sustained relationships, shared agendas and institutional ecosystems capable of turning collective knowledge into meaningful territorial change.
The University of Granada's contribution reflects its commitment to advancing this agenda internationally, positioning universities as active partners in public innovation, multilevel governance and social transformation.