On October 1st, the Alliance hosted, alongside SPRE, a successful online event bringing 68 together researchers, local and central government officers, and knowledge exchange professionals. Titled Unlocking Research-Policy Opportunities & Capacities with Scotland’s Cities, the event sought to bridge the gap between research and local policymaking, emphasising place-based approaches to solving real-world challenges.
Setting the Stage: Addressing Grand Challenges
The event kicked off with opening remarks from Gillian McCallum, Policy and Stakeholder Engagement Lead, Scottish Cities Alliance (SCA), highlighting the Alliance’s mission to address the grand challenges facing Scotland’s cities, from economic development to climate change and health disparities. Gillian emphasised how collaboration between researchers and local policymakers is critical to tackling these issues.
Research-Policy Engagement: Purpose and Potential
Catherine-Rose Stocks-Rankin, Co-Director at the Scottish Policy & Research Exchange (SPRE), followed, providing context on why the event was organised, underlining the importance of creating spaces for shared learning, collaboration, and relationship-building between academic researchers and local authorities. Research-policy engagement is key to shaping policies that are grounded in evidence and data, improving outcomes for communities across Scotland.
Showcasing Successful Collaborations
The core of the event focused on presentations from leading researchers and local government officers involved in successful research-policy collaborations:
- Aberdeen Health Determinants Research Collaboration
Martin Murchie, Chief Officer (Data and Insights) at Aberdeen City Council, discussed how the partnership between Aberdeen City Council, Robert Gordon University, and NHS Grampian aims to address health inequalities in the city. The project is a prime example of how local policymaking can benefit from strong research inputs to drive positive health outcomes.
- Urban ReLeaf, Dundee University
Prof. Mel Woods from Dundee University shared insights into Urban ReLeaf, a project that explores innovative urban greening and its impact on well-being and climate resilience. This collaboration showcased the power of research in reimagining urban spaces.
- GALLANT (Glasgow as a Living Lab for Nature-Based Solutions)
Prof. Ria Dunkley from the University of Glasgow presented the GALLANT project, which focuses on developing nature-based solutions to tackle climate challenges in Glasgow. The presentation highlighted how collaboration between researchers and the Glasgow City Council is making a real difference in local environmental policy.
- Scottish Climate Intelligence Service, ECCI
Jamie Brogan, Head of Climate Partnerships, Edinburgh Climate Change Institute (ECCI), shared the pioneering work of the Scottish Climate Intelligence Service, which supports policymakers with crucial data and insights to combat climate change across Scotland.
Thought-Provoking Discussions
Two breakout sessions allowed participants to reflect on key questions:
- What helps research-policy engagement in local policymaking?
- What difference does research-policy engagement make?
These discussions led to a rich exchange of ideas, with participants sharing practical insights on the enablers and barriers to effective collaboration. Participants highlighted the importance of building trust, long-term partnerships, and ensuring that research addresses the pressing needs of policymakers.
Reflecting on the Impact
Catherine-Rose Stocks-Rankin facilitated the feedback sessions, where attendees reflected on the discussions and presentations. One of the key takeaways was the mutual benefit of research-policy engagement—cities gain access to cutting-edge research, while researchers can see their work applied to real-world challenges, creating a powerful feedback loop that benefits both academia and society.
Moving Forward
The event’s objectives were clear: to showcase successful research-policy collaborations, enable networking, and facilitate shared learning. We’re excited to continue working with SPRE and other partners to support cities and researchers in engaging more effectively. The ideas and insights gathered will be pivotal in shaping future events and programmes, ensuring that research-policy engagement continues to thrive across Scotland.
In the coming months, both SCA and SPRE will be working on additional initiatives to further strengthen the ties between researchers and local policymakers. We look forward to building on the momentum generated by this event and continuing to foster collaborative, impactful work in Scotland’s cities.
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