International Collaboration and Societal Impact: Advancing Participatory Research

On 5 June 2026, PRIA, in collaboration with the German Centre for Research and Innovation (DWIH) New Delhi and the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), convened a panel discussion on International Collaboration and Societal Impact: Advancing Participatory Research in New Delhi. Bringing together leading representatives from DAAD, the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), and PRIA, the discussion explored how participatory research can strengthen the societal relevance, accountability, and impact of science. Panellists highlighted the importance of community ownership, citizen engagement, Indigenous knowledge systems, ethical research practices, and equitable knowledge co-creation in addressing contemporary global challenges.

The conversation emphasized that meaningful research must be conducted with communities rather than on them, while also examining the intersections of artificial intelligence, language preservation, research quality, and social justice. Concluding with reflections on accountability, the value of diverse knowledge traditions, and the need for ecologies of knowledge, the event reaffirmed the significance of participatory and open science approaches in fostering more inclusive, democratic, and socially responsive research collaborations worldwide.

Click here for the final report.