How can scientific research be transformed into public policies that make a real difference in people’s lives? This is one of the key questions facing Europe today, as communities across the continent confront increasingly complex challenges—from climate change to urban resilience and public safety.
Against this backdrop, Brussels hosted the Projects to Policy Seminar on 10–11 June 2026, an event organised by the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs (DG HOME) and the European Research Executive Agency (REA). The seminar brought together researchers, policymakers, EU agencies and project representatives to strengthen the link between EU-funded research and evidence-based policymaking.
Among the participating initiatives was TREESURE, a Horizon Europe project funded under Cluster 3 – Civil Security Society. This cluster addresses some of Europe’s most pressing security challenges, supporting research and innovation that enhance preparedness, resilience and response capacities across societies. Within this framework, TREESURE contributes to strengthening urban resilience by developing innovative tools for monitoring and managing urban trees and green infrastructure in the face of increasing climate-related risks.
Bridging Research and Policy
Innovation does not end in the laboratory. Its true value emerges when scientific knowledge is translated into practical solutions that support decision-making and improve communities’ ability to face current and future challenges. This is precisely the mission of the Projects to Policy Seminar: building bridges between those who generate knowledge and those who transform it into policies and actions with tangible societal impact.
For TREESURE, participating in this dialogue means contributing to a shared European vision of safer, greener and more resilient cities. As extreme weather events become more frequent and intense, urban ecosystems are increasingly under pressure, highlighting the need for innovative and sustainable approaches to managing urban green spaces.
Communication: Turning Knowledge into Impact
Research alone is not enough. For innovation to create impact, it must be communicated, understood and adopted.
This is why communication is not simply an additional task in European projects—it is a key driver of impact. Effective communication helps make complex findings accessible, fosters collaboration across sectors and disciplines, and strengthens the connection between science, institutions and society.
By engaging stakeholders, sharing best practices and promoting dialogue, communication transforms research outcomes into actionable knowledge that can support communities and inform policy decisions.
European initiatives increasingly recognise this role. Events such as the European Sustainable Energy Week (EUSEW) place strong emphasis on knowledge exchange, stakeholder engagement and the dissemination of project results. The availability of session replays after the event further demonstrates how sharing knowledge can extend the impact of European initiatives far beyond the conference itself.
Building Resilience Together
Urban resilience cannot be achieved by technology alone. It requires collaboration among researchers, emergency services, public authorities and citizens. TREESURE embraces this vision by helping bridge the gap between scientific innovation and practical implementation, contributing to policies and solutions that support safer, more sustainable and climate-resilient cities. Because building resilient communities is not only about developing new tools it is about creating connections: between science and policy, innovation and implementation, knowledge and action. And it is in forums like these, where ideas are exchanged and partnerships are strengthened, that the future of Europe’s resilient cities begins to take shape.
