Knowledge Brokers: Turning Research into Policy Impact

We are living in a world of wicked issues, climate crisis, geopolitical instability, mis- and disinformation, to name a few. Interconnected and complex issues require system-level analysis across disciplinary boundaries. Yet conventional models of science advice often fall short: When subscribing to a linear logic of science-policy communication, the advice is often not timely, lacks phenomenal/systemic perspective and thus impact remains low.

 

Sustaining societal resilience amid uncertainty requires that science-policy collaboration is strategically and systematically embedded in decision-making. Knowledge brokering offers an accessible but potentially transformative means of driving this systemic change.

 

Drawing on our experience as knowledge brokers in Finland, we demonstrate practical approaches that reimagine how researchers engage with policymakers, stakeholders, and society at large. We share concrete methods and tools from national policymaking that can be adapted to diverse policy contexts internationally.