Guidelines for preliminary desktop research

The TIA2030 project focuses on competence and knowledge on the European Union implementation of the United Nations global Agenda 2030, which aims to decouple economic growth from environmental and social degradation. The theoretical scope of the project is based on the SOFIA (Social-Fields-Approach) conceptual framework: three main social forces (institutions, social networks, and cognitive frames) (Beckert, 2010; Rončević & Cepoi, 2022) are considered regarding their impact while shaping the systems of technological innovations, particularly within the implementation process of Agenda 2030 and its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 

 

Within the project implementation process, TIA2030 engages a variety of target groups (academia, students, professionals, policymakers, civil servants, businesses, civil society and the general public at large), setting up infrastructure, methodologies, protocols, and tools to systematically collect, evaluate and make publicly available both already existing documentary resources and new primary empirical data.

 

In order to determine the research methodology as well as create data collection protocols and tools, the theoretical scope of the research was framed based on the literature review. This method of analysis of secondary sources involves studying information without direct participation in the data collection process, allowing for a thorough review of a large amount of data for a limited time. In addition, it enables the description of theory and facts to establish a comprehensive background and introduction to the research field (Bryman, 2012). The review was conducted using the resources from Scopus, Clarivate, and Google Scholar databases. It is based on the qualitative meta-analysis of the existing academic landscape and supporting publications, such as reports, legal documentation and data (e.g. Oslo Manual 2018, Sustainable Development Goals Report 2023, OECD and Eurostat data) regarding the implementation process of the Agenda 2030 and its SDGs (implementation deficit) within the EU, beyond its borders and in the global level. A particular emphasis is put on the social fields theory as an analytical framework to underline the role of social forces not only in shaping the internal structural settings of social fields within the process of adopting and implementing Agenda 2030 and its SDGs but also in the European Union public diplomacy in its application. Moreover, the literature review outlined the role of technological advancements within the implementation of Agenda 2030, proclaiming that innovations often facilitate realising these goals, impacting the methods and effectiveness of implementation strategies.

 

Overall, the TIA2030 project aims to advance interdisciplinary EU studies and deal with the phenomenon of EU implementation deficit, with a view to offering research and educational tools that could be utilised throughout Europe and beyond to contribute to awareness of Agenda 2030 and its SDGs and support their implementation. In addition, TIA2030 develops a multi-level approach to introduce policy recommendations for local, regional, national, macroregional and EU levels, as well as for governments beyond the EU borders to support EU public diplomacy towards third countries and promote EU values and its strategic vision.

 

The working methodology of the TIA2030 project combines four interdisciplinary elements:

• Student-centred learning educational approach, aiming to develop autonomy and independence of the learner, which will substantially increase the quality of the teaching and assure better results;

• Open Innovation 2.0 paradigm, where academia, policy-makers, industry and civil society work together to co-create structural changes far beyond the scope of individual actors. These principles of networking, collaboration, entrepreneurship (enhancing the creative exploration of new opportunities), proactive management of intellectual property (open-source approach in the case of TIA2030), and innovation are based on research and development (research activities of TIA2030);

• SOFIA conceptual framework, which focuses on institutional, social and cognitive foundations and mechanisms of implementation of Agenda 2030 and its SDGs. This approach can also be instrumental in providing the relevant tools and inclusion of all target groups in the process, primarily through debates on relevant strategic ideas (dealing with economic, political, environmental, social demographic etc. challenges, etc.) on the EU, national and regional levels, through selection of the most relevant strategic priorities in the open political process, and through dissemination of ideas on EU strategic development;

• Research activities which enable the collection of primary information.

 

The concept and methodology for the research have been selected and developed since the specific objectives cannot be met with (desktop or empirical) research alone but require smart and carefully interwoven and mutually informing activities.