In this chapter you will find basic information about the structure and logic of INSPIRE and the planned events to help you see where your involvement fits into the bigger picture. INSPIRE is structured into four main thematic areas: Sustaining Change, Widening Participation, Intersectionality and Innovation. Two consortium partners lead each knowledge and support hub (KSH) and each hub has four experts and three CoPs affiliated to them. 

Throughout the project we have planned five knowledge exchange events for each KSH. Three of these are internal knowledge exchange events to bring together the relevant INSPIRE consortium partners, the affiliated experts and the CoP members and practitioners. Two of these bring together all four KSHs, experts and CoP facilitators/ members. 

What is a Knowledge & Support Hub (KSH)?

INSPIRE builds on four Knowledge & Support Hubs (KSHs) across Europe whose main aim is to bridge, develop and advance knowledge and practice on inclusive GEP implementation in R&I institutions in four thematic areas through co-creation methods and expert engagement. These four themes are: Sustaining Change, Widening Participation, Intersectionality and Innovation. The four KSHs will provide support to 12 Communities of Practice to facilitate inclusive GEP implementation and foster mutual support for the co-development of innovative practices, customised training, and pan-European data collection. KSHs are led by two/three Consortium partners who are experts in their respective domain. 

What is Knowledge Exchange Events (KEE)?

In order to support the intended bridge between knowledge (generated by INSPIRE) and practice (via the support of, experience from and exchanges with INSPIRE CoPs), the KSHs will provide regular pathways for dialogue within each KSH as well as between the 4 KSHs. The Knowledge Exchange Events (KEE) are thus conceived to promote the exchange of knowledge and experiences within and across KSHs (and CoPs) during the course of the project. 

The "knowledge" that is meant to be shared refers to the expert knowledge brought into the project by Consortium members (expert leads, researchers), by external experts recruited specifically for each KSH as well as new knowledge and insights gained throughout the project  through data collection and analysis. In addition, the knowledge to be shared also refers to the experiential or tacit knowledge collected by KSH and CoP members working to design, implement, and evaluate inclusive gender equality policies in R&I organisations. The exchange proposed during the KEE is thus foreseen to be multidirectional and to contribute to the co-creation of evidence-based inclusive gender equality (plans) and EDI policies. 

What is Cross Knowledge Exchange Events? 

This event facilitates knowledge exchange across KSH and is an in-person event across all four KSHs in with the participation of CoP facilitators and consortium members. 

Timings: 

There are three Knowledge Exchange Event within KSHs (KE1, KE3, KE5) which will take place in March 2024, March 2025 and March 2026. Furthermore, two Knowledge Exchange Events will facilitate knowledge exchange across KSH (KE2 in September 2024 and KE4 in October 2025).