Over the last 20 years, the participation of lay-people in processes of research and innovation has been getting the character of a guiding principle. The quest for participation is also integrated in the policy programs of the European Commission. Since the main goal of the Lisbon Strategy of the EU was to create a high competitive area of a knowledge-based economy, the change in the overarching innovation-regime by integrating different forms of knowledge and actors became a major project. There are different main goals related to public involvement in research. These goals can be seen in the inclusion of specific forms of knowledge, the improving context sensitivity and bettering processes of production of knowledge for innovation- and for risk-management. They are related to effectiveness and legitimacy.