This science for policy brief explores the role of co-creation as a strategic approach for supporting the implementation of EU policies. It focuses on how collaborative processes ensure that policies not only meet the practical needs of diverse stakeholders while fostering innovation and ownership. Drawing on two cases within the context of the Interoperable Europe Act (Regulation (EU) 2024/903), including the instrument of interoperability assessments, this brief illustrates how co-creation can support policy implementation, while contributing to digital transformation across the EU.