The CINEFOGO Network will also apply innovative approaches to the spread of excellence activities involving different media and mediating networks, aimed at various target groups.

Objectives

The overall objective of the Network’s activities in relation to Spread of Excellence is to nourish the debate and discussion of the role of multiple identities, civil society and active citizenship in good governance at local, regional and mainly at national and European levels. In this respect it is important to attract researchers from all over Europe to participate in the activities of the CINEFOGO Network. Several of the conferences of the Network are open for scholars outside the network, policy institutions and NGOs. Furthermore the CINEFOGO Network invites scientific scholars from former EU-financed projects in the area of ‘Governance and Citizenship’ to all major activities of the network as participants and plenary speakers in order to make use of the previous findings from the EU framework programmes and to avoid duplication of scientific work as much as possible.

These objectives are reflected in CINEFOGO aims for dissemination:

1. To multiply the results of the project within the academia/scientific community.
2. To create a dialogue with different types of communities and Spread of Excellence partners in order to qualify the project and to disseminate results.
3. To get in touch with and communicate the results of the project to the general public in order to create debate amongst our fellow citizens and decision-makers.
4. To create access to a pool of knowledge, best practice and excellence.
5. To enhance communication and dialogue between the scientific world, politicians and citizens.
6. To communicate experiences related to the development of the innovative platform for European research (The Network of Excellence), focusing on how barriers have been overcome.

The critical mass of excellence and expertise is expected to unfold itself in close relation to the thematic framework of PIRA (Programme for Integrating Research Activities). This is to be achieved in the following three ways:

Accumulation and provision of knowledge

• Identities, values, and civic cultures in Europe. The relationship between democratic governance, citizenship and multiple identities;

• Citizenship and civic participation in relation to social protection. The impact of different patterns of trust and civic participation on the possibility of good governance and active citizenship;
• Multi-level governance and organized civil society. Does multilevel governance provide a learning experience concerning establishment of new forms of arenas, where partners from first, second and third sectors can influence the democratic process?

Experience emerging from the organisation and actions of the Network of Excellence

• Application of integrating approaches to stem the fragmentation of European research
  
• Cross disciplinary approach
  
• Trans-national European organisation and the creation of a sustainable European research organisation after the life of the project
  
• Synergies with EU politics and programmes
  

The Network itself

• Outstanding researchers and results
  
• State of the art - results already achieved
  
• Innovative approaches and methodology

Two pillars of the Spread of Excellence programme

CINEFOGO works with two pillars in our programme for spread of excellence. The first pillar is aimed at securing our contact and dialogue with leading national and European representatives of civil society and governance institutions. The second pillar is the dissemination of results and information accumulated by our integrating research programme. Activities under this pillar are aimed at targeting the public in general.

Dialogue - is targeted at a broad variety of the Network’s stakeholders: communities, associations, institutions and interest groups from all parts of society, representing a broad spectrum of values and priorities in relation to the key themes. Dialogue activities support the exchange of experience between research networks and expressed interests in society. Dialogue partners are organizations and networks representing different values and interests related to the overall purpose of our Network.

Dissemination – is targeted at the general public as well as at the public media. Overlapping to some extent with dialogue activities, dissemination should improve the basis for and nurture public debates about questions related to the ambition of improving citizen participation in multi-level governance.