Innovation and Translation

Exploring how science, technology and innovation can be translated responsibly and sustainably into collective benefits for society

Research, commentary, and events

Project
Evaluating the development of the Q initiative from 2016-2020
13 Jul 2020

The Q initiative has established itself as an important resource for quality improvement in health and care, supporting members with skills, new relationships and self-confidence. However, to deliver change at scale there is a need to build on these achievements.
Project
Assessing the impacts of digital government transformation in the EU
26 Jun 2020

A case study on the use of body worn cameras by police forces in the UK offers an example of how governments can potentially take advantage of emerging digital technologies to address systemic challenges.
Project
The benefits and drawbacks of remote voting solutions
25 Jun 2020

RAND Europe and Open Evidence examined the extent to which remote voting solutions—particularly internet voting—are employed in the European member states. The research identified the costs, risks and challenges associated with seven remote voting options.
Commentary
How to Harness Technologies in the Fight Against COVID-19
02 Jun 2020

The pandemic is an unprecedented public health crisis. But the response from science, technology, and innovation communities has been remarkable. It proves that innovation and learning, interdisciplinary methods and collaboration, information and data sharing, and adaptability are more important than ever.
Commentary
How to best enable pharma innovation beyond the COVID-19 crisis
26 May 2020

Innovating in response to public health challenges like COVID-19 does not always align well with pharmaceutical industry commercial models or shareholder expectations. More sustainable and scalable ways of incentivising innovation in response to infectious disease threats are needed.
Commentary
The Future of Research Outputs
12 May 2020

The changing nature of research outputs has the potential to affect a wide range of organizations and people. A proactive stance could help drive research towards better practices in information storage, sharing and communication, but requires early action and shared goals at a sector level.
Commentary
Leading with the Proper Use of Scientific Evidence Is Better Than Hiding Behind It
05 May 2020

Evidence only has scientific meaning when it is part of a body of disciplinary knowledge produced by a community of scientists. Leading with scientific evidence, coupled with a wider values framework, may result in better outcomes for all.
Commentary
The Pandemic Has Sparked Innovation, Offering Lessons We Must Not Forget
01 Apr 2020

COVID-19 has shocked the world and caught most countries unprepared, forcing them to improvise. But amid all the confusion and fear, the power of individuals, organizations, and communities to think differently and to innovate shows what can be achieved when people are united by common, clear priorities and necessity.
Project
Examining innovation in citizen science
17 Feb 2020

Advances in technologies, together with new opportunities for integrating diverse data sources, are enabling innovative methods of data collection in citizen science projects, but new risks have also emerged as the field evolves.
Project
Using foresight to examine the global food system
18 Nov 2019

Based on a series of foresight exercises for the UK Food Standards Agency (FSA), researchers developed a global food systems map, a map of systemic interdependencies, and a framework for future action to help the FSA achieve its goals.
Project
Technology's potential to tackle climate change in global agri-food systems
06 Nov 2019

A pilot study identified trends, opportunities and constraints in the use of emerging technologies to address climate-related challenges within the agri-food system. The findings will help to inform and test the potential for future research on the topic.
Commentary
What Is the Future of England's Research and Research Assessment?
01 Nov 2019

Rapid technological developments, changes in public policy, and shifts in the international environment all affect academia. To help understand these effects, RAND researchers asked more than 3,600 academics in England how they expect their research to evolve over the next decade.
Project
Supporting FasterCures' project on biomedical innovation metrics
30 Oct 2019

Researchers helped FasterCures in their effort to understand the metrics that currently measure innovation in the biomedical ecosystem. They also established to what degree these existing approaches are appropriate and relevant to measure and drive innovation for the benefit of patients.
Commentary
Outputs of the Future
11 Oct 2019

Are all types of research outputs of equal value? How do different outputs serve different purposes? Exploring these questions could benefit not only funders and universities, but also result in overall better use of research resources.
Commentary
Measuring Up: How to Ensure Peer Review for Grant Applications Remains Up to the Mark
26 Jul 2019

Expert peer review is considered the gold standard for assessing the validity, significance and originality of research. When it comes to grant applications, however, peer review is not without its shortcomings. Addressing some of the challenges that peer review poses could ensure that the best research receives the financial support it deserves.