Deep expertise for complex research and international ecosystems

SEPO's approach is informed by extensive experience working with organisations where complexity is not an exception, but a structural reality.

Research infrastructures. International networks. Distributed organisations. Multi-stakeholder ecosystems.

These environments require more than generic management approaches. They involve multiple levels of governance, diverse communities, institutional dependencies and sometimes competing interests.

SEPO brings particular expertise to four areas.

ESFRI Strategy & Proposal Advisory

From scientific ambition to a credible European infrastructure strategy.

Building a European research infrastructure requires more than a strong scientific case. It requires a compelling strategic vision, a credible governance model, a clear European dimension and the ability to demonstrate long-term sustainability.

SEPO supports research communities and emerging infrastructures in developing and strengthening their strategic positioning for ESFRI processes and European infrastructure development.

Our work can include:

— strategic positioning and long-term vision
— organisational and governance design
— support for ESFRI and research infrastructure development
— stakeholder and community engagement
— sustainability and business models
— preparation for organisational transitions
— alignment across national nodes and partners

_ proposal development and preparation for critical evaluation stages.

Best suited for: research communities developing an emerging infrastructure, preparing an ESFRI proposal or repositioning an existing initiative.

Format: tailored advisory, depending on the stage and needs of the initiative.

Investment: from €7,500

Turning collective scientific ambition into a sustainable organisational reality.

Strategy Development & Strategic Planning

From ambition to a strategy that can actually guide action.

A strategy is more than a document.

It is a shared understanding of where an organisation is going, why it matters and how it intends to get there.

But developing a strategy can be particularly challenging in complex organisations. Different stakeholders may hold different expectations. Priorities compete. The environment continues to evolve while the strategy is being developed.

SEPO supports organisations in turning ambition into a clear and actionable strategic direction.

Our approach combines strategic analysis with collective reflection and stakeholder engagement. We help organisations make sense of their environment, identify the questions that matter, explore possible futures and build alignment around a shared direction.

The objective is not simply to produce another strategic plan.

It is to create a strategy that can guide decisions, support collective action and remain relevant as the environment evolves.

Our work can include:

— strategic assessment and environmental analysis
— vision and strategic positioning
— identification and prioritisation of strategic objectives
— stakeholder consultation and engagement
— facilitation of collective strategic reflection
— development of strategic roadmaps and action plans
— definition of implementation and monitoring frameworks

From strategic ambition to collective direction and meaningful action.

Best suited for:  organisations at a strategic turning point — developing a new direction, rethinking their priorities or creating alignment around what comes next.

Format:  a tailored process combining strategic analysis, collective reflection and stakeholder engagement, designed around the organisation's context, challenges and ambitions.

Investment: from €7,500

Open Science & Research Ecosystems

Navigating transformation in the research landscape.

The research environment is undergoing profound transformation.

Open Science, new forms of scholarly communication, digital infrastructures, artificial intelligence and evolving public policies are reshaping how knowledge is produced, shared and governed.

For organisations operating within this landscape, the challenge is not simply to respond to change.

It is to understand how these transformations interact — and to identify where they can develop agency and create value.

Drawing on extensive experience in European and international research cooperation, SEPO supports organisations and initiatives navigating these transformations.

Our expertise includes:

— Open Science strategy and implementation
— research infrastructures and services
— European and international cooperation
— research data and FAIR ecosystems
— scholarly communication and publishing
— community and ecosystem building
— strategic positioning within evolving research environments

Best suited for: scientific organisations that deals with ecosystem evolutions

Format: tailored advisory, workshops or individual accompaniment.

Investment: from €6,500