Innovation and Translation

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

Research, commentary, and events

  • Patient communicates with her doctor via a laptop for advice, photo by Henfaes/Getty Images

    Commentary

    What Influences Quality Improvement Processes in Health Care?

    Periods of rapid change offer both opportunities and challenges for health care quality improvement. Understanding the building blocks that need to be in place to support improvement processes may help those seeking to embed improvement capabilities and capacity into their organisations, both as we emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.

    10 Nov 2020

  • Suggestion box attached to a wall, <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Suggestion_box.jpg">Photo by <a href="https://www.flickr.com/people/20826826@N00">Hashir Milhan</a>/<a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en">CC BY 2.0</a>

    Commentary

    Before Redesigning the REF, a New Survey Could Help in Understanding What Is and Isn’t Working

    September's call for more sustainable and agile research funding signaled a renewed push by research-intensive universities in the UK for a funding and assessment system with a lighter touch. Before embarking on a further round of changes, it is important to listen and learn from researchers and managers about what has and has not worked well.

    06 Oct 2020

  • Doctor's hand and modern laptop computer with virtual icon diagram, photo by everythingpossible/Adobe Stock

    Project

    Understanding the performance of the oncology healthcare system

    Researchers identified a number of key indicators that can be used to analyse elements of the oncology health system from different perspectives, and then used these indicators to create an overarching scorecard for oncology ecosystem performance.

    27 Aug 2020

  • People sitting together in a discussion

    Project

    Evaluating the development of the Q initiative from 2016-2020

    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.

    13 Jul 2020

  • Close-up of police body camera, photo by Lutsenko Oleksandr/Adobe Stock

    Project

    Assessing the impacts of digital government transformation in the EU

    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.

    26 Jun 2020

  • Computer keyboard with VOTE keys

    Project

    The benefits and drawbacks of remote voting solutions

    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.

    25 Jun 2020

  • Health care professional using a tablet with graphical images, photo by Cecilie_Arcurs/Getty Images

    Commentary

    How to Harness Technologies in the Fight Against COVID-19

    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.

    02 Jun 2020

  • Scientist working with a diagnostics kit to detect the virus that causes COVID-19, photo by anyaivanova/Getty Images

    Commentary

    How to best enable pharma innovation beyond the COVID-19 crisis

    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.

    26 May 2020

  • Hand holding a light bulb with cogs inside, photo by ipopba/Getty Images

    Commentary

    The Future of Research Outputs

    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.

    12 May 2020

  • Four hands holding magnifying glasses, photo by solidcolours/Getty Images

    Commentary

    Leading with the Proper Use of Scientific Evidence Is Better Than Hiding Behind It

    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.

    05 May 2020

  • Ventilators are stored and ready to be used at ExCel London, during its conversion into the temporary NHS Nightingale Hospital to help tackle the COVID-19 outbreak, in London, U.K., March 31, 2020, photo by Stefan Rousseau/Reuters

    Commentary

    The Pandemic Has Sparked Innovation, Offering Lessons We Must Not Forget

    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.

    01 Apr 2020

  • A group of people in the shape of the brain, illustration by tai111/Adobe Stock

    Project

    Examining innovation in citizen science

    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.

    17 Feb 2020

  • Senior scientist observes new breed of cress sprouts optimized for consumption in greenhouse

    Project

    Using foresight to examine the global food system

    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.

    18 Nov 2019

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    Project

    Technology's potential to tackle climate change in global agri-food systems

    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.

    06 Nov 2019

  • Scientists working with high tech equipment, photo by gorodenkoff/Getty Images

    Commentary

    What Is the Future of England's Research and Research Assessment?

    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.

    01 Nov 2019