Incorporating stakeholder input in EU projects

The outputs of many large EU research projects that are aimed at improving life in cities and that of their residents, such as those funded under the Horizon 2020 programme, are often delivered by technology-oriented partners or research institutions that, although they are often a part of a heterogeneous consortia, may not be aware of the real-life dimension of the problem they are solving. This could be particularly troublesome in case a holistic solution should be delivered and is especially valid in case of Smart Cities related problems. In this paper we are proposing a methodology to overcome this issue while using the example of a real Horizon 2020 project MAVEN — Managing Automated Vehicles Enhances Network. The methodology is based on the system engineering approach and its application is illustrated on the first MAVEN stakeholder consultation workshop including its evaluation using the online tool Mentimeter. The proposed template can be used in other EU projects.