While the challenges facing decision-makers in accessing and using evidence have been well documented in the policy literature, there has been less focus on the ‘supply-side’ of such academic-policy initiatives. How best to facilitate academic engagement with decision-makers from the researcher’s perspective? What infrastructure and incentives need to be in place to maximise the use of evidence for the public good?

This report presents the findings of research involving a nationwide survey to improve our understanding of the policy engagement experience of UK-based researchers. Alongside this research, the authors collate the wider literature on increasing academic engagement. By understanding the challenges and motivations that face both the ‘demand-’ and the ‘supply-side’ of research engagement, more iterative academic-policy initiatives can be developed.

This report is from the Evidence information service project, funded by the European Research Council (ERC), and supported by the GW4 Alliance.