MAIA

Maximizing the impact of European climate research with Brigaid Connect

A project to connect climate knowledge in Europe

The European project MAIA (Maximising Impact and Accessibility of European Climate Research) represents a fundamental initiative to amplify the impact of climate change research funded by the European Union. MAIA emerges from the accumulated experience of seven Horizon 2020 precursor projects: BINGO, BRIGAID, CLARITY, Connecting Nature, DRIVER+, PLACARD, and RESCCUE.

In a context where Europe leads climate action globally, MAIA presents itself as an impact multiplier that provides social structures, technological activities, and outreach to accompany, enhance, and maximize the impact of climate research projects funded under Horizon Europe. The project consortium is coordinated by BC3 (Basque Centre for Climate Change) and brings together eleven European partners, including Brigaid Connect, its three affiliated entities and an associated partner.

MAIA’s transformative objectives

MAIA’s main objective is ambitious yet clear: to amplify the impact of European climate research by creating synergies, facilitating scalability, and maximizing joint impact through enhanced connectivity of knowledge, networks, and coordinated activities for dissemination, exploitation, and cross-fertilization of research results.

This overall objective is operationalized through nine intertwined specific objectives. First, MAIA seeks to connect networks of climate actors by liaising with existing networks on climate change research and innovation, activating links between these networks to facilitate active dialogue and a more effective flow of information and knowledge.

Second, the project aims to make knowledge on climate resilience much more accessible and usable for regions, cities, and local communities. To achieve this, it develops a European climate adaptation and mitigation taxonomy and ontology and interconnects existing knowledge platforms into a MAIA Climate knowledge platforms network.

The third strategic objective consists of helping climate change research projects establish synergies and develop clustering activities that deliver greater impact. MAIA creates an EU climate change research Cluster, fostering cooperation between relevant projects under thematic working groups coordinated and facilitated by MAIA.

Additionally, the project focuses on strengthening science-policy and science-civil society interfaces, democratizing climate knowledge, supporting the exploitation of research results, facilitating the upscaling of individual projects, conducting active outreach activities, incorporating psychological perspectives in climate change communication, and identifying research gaps that can be connected with ongoing research.

Brigaid Connect’s strategic contribution

Brigaid Connect emerges as a fundamental strategic partner within the MAIA ecosystem, bringing invaluable experience built during the BRIGAID project (2016-2020) and consolidated as an independent legal entity that continues its mission to drive climate resilience innovation.

Leadership in the EU Climate Research Cluster

Brigaid Connect’s most significant contribution materializes in the leadership of Work Package 6 (WP6), titled «EU climate change research Cluster in action,» with a dedication of 76.5 person-months. This package represents the heart of coordination between European climate research projects. Brigaid Connect is responsible for mapping and convening relevant climate research projects to identify collaboration points and opportunities for joint actions, establishing between 8 and 10 thematic working groups within the Cluster.

The organization coordinates regular activities, at least every three months, through the inter-project Learning and Action Alliance (LAA), promoting mutual learning and addressing transversal themes. These activities strengthen cross-fertilization through direct linkages and facilitate the transferability of methods and tools developed in different projects.

Brigaid Connect’s team: A multidisciplinary approach

Brigaid Connect’s contribution to MAIA is strengthened by its three affiliated entities, which bring specialized expertise to the project. Icatalist, Off Course, and Benedict Peax work alongside Brigaid Connect as affiliated entities, each contributing their unique capabilities to ensure the project’s success.

Icatalist provides strategic innovation consultancy and project management expertise, supporting the coordination of the EU climate change research Cluster and facilitating the connection between research projects and stakeholders. Their experience in managing complex European projects and fostering innovation ecosystems is instrumental in structuring the thematic working groups and ensuring effective collaboration across the Cluster.

Off Course, specializing in visual communication and knowledge dissemination, plays a vital role in translating complex scientific knowledge into accessible and engaging content. Their expertise ensures that the results and activities of the Climate Resilience Cluster reach diverse audiences effectively, supporting MAIA’s mission to democratize climate knowledge and enhance the visibility of European climate research.

Benedict Peax, based in the Netherlands, contributes expertise in financial planning and funding strategies. Their role supports MAIA’s business and exploitation-support services, helping climate research projects identify funding opportunities and develop sustainable business models. This financial expertise is particularly valuable in supporting the exploitation and sustainability planning activities that ensure the long-term impact of research outcomes beyond the project’s duration.

Social engagement and knowledge democratization

Within Work Package 5, dedicated to knowledge democratization, Brigaid Connect leads Task 5.3 on active societal engagement in climate research outreach. This initiative organizes online dialogues and other interactions at least every three months, focusing on transforming the best science produced by the Climate Resilience Cluster into societal impact.

Using insights on key variables for behavioral change and information on best practices and replication potential, Brigaid Connect dynamizes these dialogues, representing all social target groups and offering support to the project as MAIA dissemination multipliers.

A collaborative model for greater impact

Brigaid Connect’s participation in MAIA demonstrates how experience from previous projects can contribute to broader coordination efforts at the European level. As one of eleven partners in the consortium, Brigaid Connect brings its expertise in managing collaborative networks and facilitating dialogue between research projects and stakeholders.

The MAIA project represents an innovative model for amplifying the impact of European climate research through enhanced connectivity and coordination. By bringing together multiple partners with complementary expertise, MAIA creates a framework where research results can be more effectively shared, scaled, and translated into practical applications. Brigaid Connect contributes to this collaborative effort through its work in coordinating the research Cluster and supporting knowledge democratization activities, working alongside other consortium partners to achieve the project’s ambitious goals.

MAIA

Maximising Impact and Accessibility of European Climate Research