Bridging research and policy : insights from 50 case studies

This paper looks at why some research policy ideas are picked up and acted on while others are ignored and disappear. It examines the processes, findings and implications of 50 summary case studies on research policy linkages. Discussion centres around four interlinked spheres: context, evidence, links and external influences. Some case studies show a clear and direct link between research and policy, while most show a less direct impact with a necessity for strong advocacy efforts. The case studies represent an interesting range of evidence and experience about research-policy links from around the world. They include examples from a wide range of types of research carried out by a variety of organisations and illustrate different types of policy impact. This ranges from direct impact on policy, changes in policy implementation, and changes on the ground but little in policy