The BioAgora Science-Policy Interface (SPI) Dialogue Workshop took place on 1–2 October 2025 in Ghent, Belgium, gathering policymakers, scientists, and stakeholders to explore how the Nature Restoration Regulation (NRR) can be effectively implemented for river restoration and water resilience across Europe.
Hosted in the historic Thagaste Monastery, the two-day event combined keynotes, policy panels, role plays, a field visit, and co-creation labs to connect scientific evidence with policy and practice. Speakers from the European Commission, research institutions, and civil society organisations addressed cross-sectoral challenges and shared experiences for advancing the NRR.
Participants co-developed evidence-informed recommendations on policy coherence, governance, financing, and monitoring, highlighting the need for stronger collaboration across sectors and levels of governance. The workshop also reflected on the SPI process itself as a capacity-building exercise for future dialogues under the BioAgora Knowledge Exchange Network on Freshwater.
