Research, assessment of noise- and air pollution testing solutions and the creation of a vehicle pollution repository are just a few of the great project result that LENS aims to achieve. Nevertheless, the entire project is missing its mark, if cities, users and stakeholders will not receive our project results or they might deem the outcomes as futile or irrelevant.
In order to avoid this, LENS has set up a system to involve stakeholders from different countries and areas of interest, including citizens’ initiatives that aim to counteract noise- and air pollution, as well as motorcycle clubs. Similar to the notion of the ‘city platform’, which is explained here, the aim of the stakeholder platform is to guarantee the usability of the LENS project results, digital solutions and (policy-)recommendations.
Why is stakeholder engagement necessary for LENS?
As previously mentioned, the research of LENS can only bring a significant impact, if the suggested measures for cities are in line with the sociopolitical expectations of interest- and user groups. Exchanging and providing an update about the project plans and the expected and intended outcome can have several significant effects:
- Stakeholders can influence the direction of the project and can highlight insufficiencies or grey areas
- Stakeholders are multipliers of project results and research outcomes
- Motorcyclists can provide insights on the most common tampering techniques and the potential mitigation techniques
- Enhance the decision-making process of the consortium
- Enhance the project relevance
- Aligning Objectives and Goals of LENS with the reality
How will LENS engage with the dedicated stakeholders?
In contrast to the more extensive engagement of the City Platform, the interactions of the Stakeholder Group will take place primarily online through a series of scheduled meetings. These virtual meetings will use a variety of formats, including workshops, presentations and open discussions, in order to foster a dynamic exchange between the stakeholders and the consortium partners. As the project progresses and the research produces its first results, these interactions will become increasingly important, allowing for in-depth discussion and feedback.
To ensure that the stakeholder group has a full understanding of the project developments, they will be invited to participate virtually in all City Platform meetings. In cases where hybrid meeting options are available in the respective cities, this approach will further enhance their involvement and collaboration. By integrating both online and physical meeting options, LENS aims to create a seamless and inclusive engagement experience for committed stakeholders.