D2.2 Report on community building within VERITY

This deliverable synthesises the VERITY project’s stakeholder engagement activities, with a focus on the creation and operationalisation of the Advisory and Impact (ADIM) Board, collaboration with sister projects, the Broader Cluster of projects, networks, and initiatives, and diverse stakeholder activities through collaboration, involvement, consultation, and information, as well as the design and facilitation of co-creation processes that advanced the project's aim to re-shape the Ecosystem of Trust in Science. Building on the initial engagement strategy outlined in D2.1, which served as a jointly developed guidance document for stakeholder engagement across workpackages (WPs), including the conceptualisation of stakeholder groups and their potential impact on both the project and the wider Ecosystem of Trust, the report documents how stakeholders were identified and engaged as ‘Stewards of Trust’ (SOT) across diverse domains, including science communication, policy-making, research ethics (RE), citizen science (CS), and science funding. The engagement approach integrated a variety of participatory formats – such as bilateral meetings, online and in-person workshops, and structured surveys – with formal consultation activities, including deliverable reviews, scenario-building sessions, and contributions to the co-development of key outputs. This deliverable serves as a bridge toward the lasting effects of community building through the provision of key resources to stakeholders, including the Protocol of Recommendations, the interactive online tool, the scenario-building training for effective implementation of recommendations, the VERITY Ambassador Toolkit, and Roadmap, consolidating the project’s legacy. The model piloted in VERITY demonstrates a replicable, scalable approach to cultivating trust in science through participatory governance. As such, it provides actionable insights and a tested framework for future Horizon Europe projects seeking to embed trust, transparency, and inclusion into research and innovation systems.