Research & Knowledge Exchange

Research, evidence and best practice

The Alliance works across partners and other organisations to identify research, innovation, and knowledge exchange opportunities to address urban challenges. The Alliance is keen to work with national research institutions and other agencies to identify opportunities to identify, discuss and apply innovative policies and solutions to core challenges and opportunities facing Scottish cities. By leveraging the unique strengths of our universities and cities we are drawing on extensive research expertise and the collective experiences of our cities and the Scottish Government to deliver economic, environmental, and social outcomes for Scotland.

“The Scottish Cities Alliance were a critical partner in getting the commitment and building the partnerships to establish the Scottish Climate Intelligence Service. Working with the Alliance allowed us to scale a local climate programme for impact across Scotland. We were engaged in helping cities understand how to most effectively build capability and capacity in local authorities for net zero delivery and worked hand-in-hand with the SCA to understand their needs and how the knowledge, expertise and insights of the university could help them. By working with us to bring on board all of the local authorities and the Scottish Government as partners, the SCA were the conduit to establishing a national programme which leverages expertise from within the Edinburgh Climate Change Institute to change the way we design, manage and support delivery of climate action across Scotland.”   

Jamie Brogan

Head of Climate Partnerships, Edinburgh Climate Change Institute

How do we do this?

Research, evidence and best practice: engaging with researchers

As part of our commitment to driving greater collaboration and building capacity across our cities, we work closely with universities to support local policymaking through research engagement. The Alliance provides the space to broker relationships between cities and researchers- to provoke reflective discussion; identify opportunities to build more strategic inter-organisational approaches and identify opportunities for research, policy, and innovation partnerships.

Collaborating with innovation networks

We collaborate with Innovate UK, the Scottish Innovation Centres, UK Catapults, and organisations like CodeBase to boost urban innovation and economic growth across Scotland’s cities. This approach helps cities access expertise, share best practices, and secure funding, making them more resilient and sustainable. 

How do I get involved? 

If you are interested in engaging with the Scottish Cities Alliance as a researcher or other organisation, please email info@scottishcities.org.uk, and we will connect you with the appropriate contacts and opportunities.

Alternatively, if you have a piece of research which you feel has wider applicability across the Alliance partnership, please complete and submit a summary of your research using the link to the enquiry form below to allow a member of the Alliance team to reach out to discuss opportunities for wider dissemination with you.  

More information:-

Scottish Cities Alliance and Scottish Policy Research Exchange –“Unlocking Research-Policy Engagement in Scotland’s Cities”

Connected Places Catapult “UK and Irish local authorities “Joining the Dots”, sharing best practice on the Future of Cities”

Enquire

Scottish Cities Alliance and Smart Cities Scotland logos