Innovation and Translation

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

Research, commentary, and events

Multimedia
Expert Insights: The Global Digital Skills Gap
14 Jan 2022

Increasing digitalisation has changed the nature of work, making digital skills an essential attribute for the modern workforce. However, the demand for digital skills is outpacing the supply, creating a global digital skills ‘gap’. RAND Europe researchers Salil Gunashekar and Carolina Feijao discuss what is driving the digital skills gap and how organisations could address the issue.
Project
Exploring the opportunities and challenges of UK research engagement with China
15 Dec 2021

An independent, evidence-based study into research engagement by UK academics with China aims to improve the UK government’s wider understanding of engagement with China on joint research activities, the benefits of collaboration, how to manage risk, and more.
Project
Assessing POCT for infectious disease surveillance, prevention and control
02 Dec 2021

Researchers examined the availability of point-of-care testing (POCT) devices to diagnose 56 communicable diseases and related health issues under EU surveillance — not including COVID-19 — and mapped trends in the use of POCT in Europe.
Project
Making outcome-based payment a reality in the NHS: Phase 2
23 Nov 2021

To prepare for the implementation of a pilot scheme to pay for cancer drugs based on achieved outcomes, researchers addressed issues identified in the first phase of research, such as the quality and completeness of real-world data on key patient outcomes.
Multimedia
The Future of Research Assessments
17 Sep 2021

How do researchers expect the types of research they produce to change in the next 5 to 10 years? In this Expert Insights podcast, Catriona Manville and Susan Guthrie discuss the future of the research landscape and how changes may affect the nature of research assessment in the UK.
Commentary
The Implications for Human Rights in the Digital Age
03 Sep 2021

As society relies more and more on digital technologies, there are growing implications for human rights and individuals' fundamental freedoms—both positive and negative.
Project
Evaluating the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund
23 Aug 2021

RAND Europe, with the support of Frontier Economics, is leading a four-year independent evaluation of the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund, building on evaluations of each of the ISCF Challenges to examine the impact of the ISCF as a whole.
Project
Tackling societal challenges and guiding the future of research and innovation in Norway
09 Aug 2021

Researchers identified 20 priority missions and 10 structural measures that could help the Research Council of Norway to develop a strong and resilient research and innovation environment in the strategic areas of oceans, green transition, health and welfare, cohesion and globalisation, and technology and digitalisation.
Commentary
Thinking Through Rapid and Scalable Rollout of Healthcare Innovations for Public Health Challenges
14 Jun 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic has shown that rapid innovation in the face of public health emergencies is possible. In only 15 months, 15 vaccines have been approved or authorized for use in various parts of the world. What thinking is required to support uniform rapid rollout for future public health emergencies?
Project
Supporting the Observatory on the Online Platform Economy
09 Jun 2021

In support of the Observatory on the Online Platform Economy, researchers produced two analytical papers discussing issues relating to approaches taken to identify online platforms with significant market power and developments concerning business-to-business platforms, and emerging cloud services.
Commentary
The Pivotal Role of Remote Working in the Journey to Jab the Nation
13 May 2021

Pulling the UK COVID-19 vaccination program together was an immense logistical and technical effort. Had it not been for the working practices mandated by the lockdown, it would have been even more difficult. What changed over the pandemic to allow this to happen?
Project
The use of public engagement for technological innovation
29 Jan 2021

Because different public engagement techniques may be more or less effective in promoting selected outcomes, researchers found that a diverse range of techniques should be used to engage the public in technological innovation.
Commentary
What Influences Quality Improvement Processes in Health Care?
10 Nov 2020

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.
Commentary
Before Redesigning the REF, a New Survey Could Help in Understanding What Is and Isn’t Working
06 Oct 2020

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.
Project
Understanding the performance of the oncology healthcare system
27 Aug 2020

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.