Pooling Resources, Leveraging Policy Impact

How universities can collaborate with Think Tanks, NGOs or Foundations

Summary: Key features in a nutshell (2-5 bullet points)

• Researchers at universities can benefit from collaboration with think tanks, NGOs or foundations by jointly organising policy events or publishing policy-relevant research findings, job placements, or pooling resources in terms of expertise, funding, and staff support.
• While scientists at universities can provide evidence because of original research or thorough synthesis of academic literature, policy experts at think tanks, NGOs or foundations can translate academic research findings into policy-relevant formats and identify possible target groups and windows of opportunity.
• Think tanks, NGOs and foundations are diverse entities: Think tanks can comprise advocacy think tanks, academic institutes or research institutes regularly conducting commissioned research for policymaking institutions. NGOs can comprise advocacy NGOs, service delivery NGOs, professional associations or business associations. Foundations provide grants NGOs or research institutions. They can also publish policy analyses or organise policy events.

How can scientists at universities collaborate with think tanks or NGOs?

Research at universities is structured around projects that produce original research and thorough synthesis of academic literature. Scientists at universities publish their research results in scientific journals. They often struggle with the following challenges:

• How to communicate research findings to policymakers? Researchers use scientific jargon while often not understanding policy jargon. Formats like policy briefs or policy events differ from academic publications or academic events.
• How to relate research expertise to policy demands? When to communicate research findings to policymakers? How to identify windows of opportunity? Regularly following policy debates is time-consuming. Scientists do not have access to the tacit knowledge in policymaking institutions.
• Which policymakers should be addressed? How should they be approached? Identifying potential target groups by browsing parliamentary committees and organisational charts of policymaking institutions, such as ministries, directorates-general of the European Commission, or political parties, is time-consuming.

By collaborating with think tanks, NGOs or foundations, scientists can save time and money while leveraging their policy impact. Think tanks, NGOs or foundations regularly interact with policymakers. They enjoy a degree of visibility many scientists or scientific institutions struggle to achieve. Policy experts at think tanks, NGOs, or foundations closely monitor policy debates. They know whom to approach and which buzzwords to use in their publications or events. Rather than spending time and money on publications or events that go unnoticed by policymakers, scientists can conduct research, publish results, or organise policy events in collaboration with think tanks, NGOs, or foundations.

Guiding questions for researchers or research managers, when considering collaboration with think tanks, NGOs, or foundations:

• Which think tanks, NGOs, or foundations work on policy issues in your area of expertise (e.g., environment, energy, security, health, digitalisation)?
• What kind of publications like policy briefs, policy reports, blog posts, or factsheets do think tanks, NGOs or foundations publish? Do you appreciate the content and quality of the publications?
• What type of events (e.g. panel discussions, background talks, workshops) do the think tanks, NGOs or foundations organise? Have you participated in one or several events? Did you like the organisation of the event? Did policymakers attend the events?
• What impression do the websites and social media accounts of the think tanks , NGOs or foundations leave? Do they post on a regular basis? Is the content regularly liked or shared by followers?
• What reputation do the think tanks, NGOs or foundations have? Do they lean towards one side of the political spectrum? Are they affiliated with political parties or stakeholders like business associations? How are they funded?
• Might a possible collaboration with think tanks, NGOs, or foundations damage your scientific reputation?

Guiding questions for researchers or research managers when discussing possible collaboration with think tanks or NGOs:

• What is the goal of the collaboration? Do you want to achieve policy change? Do you want to increase your visibility among policymakers? Do you want to conduct research in collaboration with the think tanks, NGO or foundation?
• Do the think tanks, NGOs, or foundations publish joint publications or guest contributions at all? Do they organise events in collaboration with other organisations?
• Does the collaboration involve sharing of costs (e.g., event catering, rent, printing costs)? Which costs have to be covered? What is your budget?
• How do the think tanks, NGOs, or foundations decide which publications to publish or events to organise? are the criteria for deciding on publications or joint events? Who decides on the structure, layout, and dates of the publications? Who decides on the guestlist for events?
• Does a cooperation agreement have to be signed? Is there an official policy regarding the display of logos and institutional affiliation?

Tasks and resources: Brief description of the tasks and resources needed by scientists, knowledge exchange officers/research managers and policymakers

Scientists

It can be challenging for scientists to understand the differences between academic publications and events, and policy-oriented publications, such as policy briefs. While sections on methods or theoretical debates are very important in academic debates, think tanks and NGOs stress the applicability of research findings and recommendations for policymakers. Also, while research projects are conducted over years at universities, think tanks, NGOs, or foundations usually factor in current policy debates when publishing or organising events.

Knowledge exchange officers/ research managers

Research managers can map possible partners among think tanks, NGOs or foundations by assessing the quality, reach and impact of their publications or events. They can sort out legal or organisational issues like the display of logos or the sharing of costs.

Sources and further reading

Please add URL or publications, if applicable.

See also contributions on the following issues

The toolkit’s editors will add the information in this section.

Do you want to know more about the policy engagement toolkit?

Do you want to share your experience in policy engagement? Do you think about contributing to the policy engagement toolkit? Feel free to contact Tome Sandevski via science-policy@pvw.uni-frankfurt.de