Integration Policy and Social Change

The project builds on debates and research concerning the conditions and design of knowledge transfer. For many years, exchange between academia, politics, public administration, and civil society has played a crucial role in Germany's political and societal development. The COVID-19 pandemic, in particular, highlighted the importance of scientific evidence for addressing major societal challenges. Responding to societal developments and providing evidence for policymakers and other stakeholders has increasingly become recognised as a "third mission" of universities and research institutions alongside research and teaching.

In this context, the concept of knowledge valorisation describes the process of creating social and economic value from knowledge by connecting different sectors and transforming data, expertise, and research findings into sustainable solutions and knowledge-based strategies that benefit society (European Commission). Research has long examined the conditions under which scientific evidence successfully informs policy and practice. Factors such as clear communication, relevance, practical applicability, credibility, appropriate timing, contextual sensitivity, and stakeholder involvement are all considered essential.

The need to strengthen connections between science and society is particularly evident in the field of integration. The arrival and participation of immigrants and their descendants take place within a complex and rapidly changing social environment. Scientific expertise and empirical evidence are therefore indispensable for evidence-informed and sustainable integration policies. Nevertheless, political decisions in this field can sometimes become disconnected from scientific evidence.

Although migration and integration research generates extensive empirical knowledge, relatively little attention has been paid to the conditions under which this knowledge informs the actions of actors in politics, administration, and civil society—or to the barriers preventing this from happening. Decision-making may be guided by evidence, but it may also be shaped by institutional routines or political and ideological considerations. At the same time, research findings may be too specialised or fail to address stakeholders' specific information needs. Knowledge valorisation therefore depends not only on producing knowledge but also on designing effective processes for transferring it.

The project seeks to strengthen dialogue between the Department of Integration and stakeholders from politics, public administration, and civil society. It aims to identify stakeholders' knowledge needs, incorporate them into ongoing and future research projects, and determine the conditions that enable successful knowledge transfer. In the long term, this will help make the department's research findings more useful for policy, administration, and civil society.

To preserve and further develop existing expertise, the project first reflects on previous projects within the Department of Integration through internal exchange formats and systematically reviews experiences with communicating research findings to policymakers, public administrations, and civil society organisations. Based on these reflections, the department further develops its strategies and concepts for target-group-oriented science communication.

Second, the project looks beyond the department itself by analysing under which conditions integration researchers in Germany have successfully transferred theoretical and empirical knowledge into policy, administration, and civil society in recent years.

Effective knowledge transfer also requires a detailed understanding of current legislation and of the actors operating at the intersection of integration and related policy fields such as family, long-term care, and labour. The project therefore continuously monitors relevant legislation—including laws that directly (e.g. immigration law) or indirectly (e.g. family or long-term care legislation) shape integration—as well as the associated actors, policy debates, and legislative processes.

During the first project year, the research focused on the tension between national legislation and transnational family realities. In close cooperation with other projects in the Department of Integration, legal frameworks relating to long-term care, health insurance, and cross-border mobility were analysed. This work identified opportunities for improving the conditions under which transnational families can live and provide care.

In addition, the department reflected on the conditions for successful dialogue-based knowledge transfer through the workshop series "Resilient Municipalities 2.0." The workshops provide a platform where practitioners can exchange experiences and build networks while engaging with current scientific evidence and debates. The experience shows that successful dialogue formats require trust-based relationships, strong existing networks, and sufficient flexibility to address participants' current interests and emerging topics.

Practical Relevance

More evidence-informed decision-making in the fields of migration, integration, and forced displacement can substantially improve the effectiveness of public policies. It reduces social and financial costs by preventing ineffective or harmful measures. For people with migration histories, it promotes equal participation in key areas such as employment, education, and social support. For public institutions and organisations, evidence-informed policies improve cost-effectiveness, transparency, organisational learning, and public trust. At the same time, a stronger empirical foundation can improve political communication and contribute to more balanced public debates. Better knowledge transfer therefore helps uphold humanitarian standards, reduce social inequalities, and strengthen Germany's ability to attract the international skilled workers its economy increasingly depends on.