We interviewed Agnieszka Stokłosa (PCSS) and Leonie Schäfer (DFN), who are the Chairs and Strategic Coordinators of the newly established Special Interest Group on Public Affairs and Policy (SIG-PA). Following its first meeting, they reflect on the growing impact of policy engagement on the NREN community and how SIG-PA supports a more connected and informed approach to these challenges.
Words: Agnieszka Stokłosa, PCSS and Leonie Schäfer, DFN
Why is this SIG important for the community right now?
The policy landscape for NRENs has shifted from the periphery to the centre of our operations. Between Work Programmes, AI regulation, evolving digital infrastructure strategies, and complex funding cycles, the “rules of the game” are moving fast. Most NRENs are navigating this on their own, without a structured way to share what’s working or to coordinate positions. SIG-PA was created precisely to fill that gap, to give the community a space where public affairs expertise is taken seriously as a strategic discipline.
What topics will SIG-PA explore next, and will digital sovereignty be one of them?
Digital sovereignty is a cornerstone of our agenda. NRENs are, by their very nature, mission-driven and independent; we are the “trusted infrastructure” that European digital autonomy policies aim to achieve. It is essential to help each other articulate that value to policymakers more effectively. We are also looking at how AI is reshaping the policy world, not just the regulations themselves, but how we ensure the NREN voice is heard clearly in an increasingly crowded and automated information environment.
Why is it valuable for NRENs to share public affairs and policy experience?
While national contexts differ, the underlying pressures are similar. Sharing what works (and what doesn’t) saves us from reinventing the wheel. For smaller NRENs without dedicated public affairs teams, SIG-PA can provide an “early warning system” for policy trends. It’s a low-stakes environment to build confidence and refine advocacy tactics before taking them to a national or European stage.
What kinds of common policy challenges can the group help address?
We focus on the high-stakes issues across the community, including protecting funding streams, engaging with regulatory developments in areas like cybersecurity and data governance, and ensuring NRENs are recognised as “critical infrastructure.” These arguments are much harder to make in isolation. Through SIG-PA, we aim to be able to point to consistent positions and shared evidence across the community.
What impact could better policy collaboration have on the wider community?
If NRENs engage more effectively with the policy environment, individually and collectively, the likely result is a more stable and better-resourced community over the long term. This means secured funding for infrastructure, greater influence over the regulatory conditions under which NRENs operate, and wider recognition of the community’s role in supporting European research, education, and innovation. More broadly, it also strengthens the case for a European digital ecosystem that is genuinely open, trusted, and built around democratic values.
Join the conversation at TNC26!
If you are attending TNC26 in Helsinki, come and meet us in person! We will be hosting a Community Hub session “Bridging Borders: A Global Networking Hub for Public Affairs” on Thursday 11 June. It’s a brilliant opportunity to connect with peers and help shape our collective voice.
SIG-PA will also host a strategic side meeting at NDN Conference 2026 in Luleå in September, focusing on the geopolitical dimensions of research and education networking.
For more information on SIG-PA visit: community.geant.org/sig-pa
