European Commission – Joint Research Centre
Bringing 100 European decision-makers together around a strategic action plan
Public policy is complex, and when it comes to change management, circulating a strategy document is no longer enough to guide teams on the ground. To launch its Action Book on territorial innovation, the Joint Research Centre (JRC) and DG REGIO at the European Commission asked Arcane Experience to design a large-scale institutional serious game . This immersive training programme was built by our designers to break down silos, simplify complex scenarios and tap into thecollective intelligence of stakeholders from across Europe.
The challenge: turning a scientific report into real skills
The Joint Research Centre (JRC) published theAction Book, a reference guide supporting European regions through their green and digital transitions. The Commission wanted to avoid the classic pitfall: a report that stays theoretical. The task was to invent learning methods that could immerse 100 learners with very different profiles (MEPs, regional leaders, technical experts) in the book’s concepts, while shifting their mindsets and their collaborative behaviour.
Our answer: 3 months of co-design and high-intensity facilitation
To guarantee a perfect fit between political rigour and a smooth game experience, Arcane Experience ran a three-month co-design phase with the JRC working group. After analysing the report’s learning objectives and choosing between two creative routes, we delivered a fully scripted, playful format on the day, on site, led by our project manager and an actor-presenter (Master of Ceremonies).
Game mechanics: 4 levers to bring the Action Book to life
Learning through play
A team quiz with buzzers to test knowledge of the Action Book, combine fun and learning, and explore the potential benefits of each initiative without the jargon.
Cross-European synergy and collaborative work
Teams were reshuffled in real time around Europe’s 7 major societal challenges (climate, digital, health and more) to anchor the learning and spark communities of interest beyond borders.
Ambassador diplomacy and corporate game play
Role-play set in fictional regions, where pairs of ambassadors move from table to table to pitch their roadmap, compare viewpoints and sharpen their strategies.
Strategic alignment
A collective finale in which each group defines its own identity, guided by our trainers and facilitators, turning a launch evening into a founding act of mutual commitment.
Impact and benefits: bringing the transition to life on the ground
Real ownership of the Action Book
100% participation and completion. Participants moved from observers to owners of the roadmap.
An innovation network is born
The group dynamic kick-started direct, practical conversations between decision-makers who had never met before the event.
FAQ: serious games and public institutions
Why does the serious game format suit public institutions and agencies?
A serious game turns dense public policy into lived experience. It breaks down barriers of hierarchy and geography, draws on active learning and makes strategic roadmaps far easier to remember.
How do you ensure content compliance during the design phase?
Our approach combines an in-depth immersion phase with an iterative process. Every question and case study is validated with your teams, so the game respects your policy direction, official terminology and institutional framework to the letter.
Can an institutional serious game be run for very large groups?
Yes. Our game mechanics are designed to scale, from 50 to more than 700 participants. Take a look at our TotalEnergies case study (200 engineers trained in knowledge sharing). With proven facilitation know-how (professional presenters, a dedicated control desk, ambassador rotation mechanics), we keep interaction levels at their highest.
