Thematic Calls Emphasising Collaborative Research

At the heart of the initiative has always been a focus on “partnerships of equals” which is based on the idea of a co-design process ensuring that project partners are jointly setting priorities to achieve outcomes that truly meet local needs. In the past, MeerWissen had invited all successful applicants to a co-design workshop. While this approach was both helpful and highly engaging for projects, some reported requiring more time and resources for cooperatively developing both project and partnership while also engaging stakeholders. These experiences coincide with the calls for more emphasis on co-design and co-creation in collaborative, transformative research voiced in the context of the UN Ocean Decade. Therefore, next to its co-design workshop, MeerWissen decided to offer a funded co-design phase preceding the project’s implementation. Such a co-design phase can take many forms, depending on each partnership’s and each project’s individual needs and status.