INTERACTS started in January 2002 and is expected to be finished at the end of February 2004. The project is realized in five steps:

1. The State-of-the-Art Report provides an overview of political and institutional conditions for the co-operation between small to medium non-governmental organisations (NGOs), science shops, and universities in Denmark, the United Kingdom, Germany, Austria, Spain, and Romania. This report serves as a basis for the next two steps, the case studies and the participatory workshops.

2. For the National Case Studies Reports the INTERACTS consortium examined the expectations from and the practical experience with interaction between NGOs, scientists, and science shops and produced an inventory of the impact direct co-operations had.

3.  Participatory workshops in each of the seven partner countries allowed discussion of future expectations and perspectives for co-operation with NGO representatives, researchers and policy makers. Together with the State-of-the-Art Report and the case studies, these discussions produced an inventory of operational options and challenges, and necessary changes for improving the future interaction between NGO’s, researchers, and intermediaries like science shops. Giving voice to a broader range of stakeholders democratizes Science and Technology policy.

4. The final report will identify potentials and barriers of the research and development system to enable effective and sustainable co-operation and presents policy recommendations and strategies for improving conditions for future co-operations.

5. In a last step, the INTERACTS findings are disseminated at national and international workshops and conferences.