The Australian Public Policy Institute (APPI) and the Open Innovation Team (OIT), a cross-government unit within the UK Government, have initiated a collaboration that will facilitate the exchange of ideas and promote shared learning on how to enhance the use of research and innovation in government policy development.
APPI and OIT share a mission of connecting university expertise with policymakers to drive timely, effective, and impactful evidence-based outcomes. The Memorandum of Understanding will provide critical cross-border insights to help address the complex challenges facing governments today.
The collaboration will focus on rapid policy projects, exploring ways to quickly and effectively bring academic expertise into live policy questions, and capability and fellowship programs to exchange experiences on initiatives that support professional development across government. It will also share best practice on academic engagement to develop practical approaches to involve researchers in policy work and increase the impact of university research.
Libby Hackett, CEO of APPI, noted, “Policy challenges today, such as economic productivity, energy transition, and cost of living, are increasingly transnational. By jointly assessing what works in government-university collaboration, OIT and APPI will help to develop a global playbook for effective expert-led policy innovation.”
“This agreement will create a valuable international peer network, building our respective capability to tackle complex policy issues more effectively,” said Chris Webber of the Open Innovation Team. “This new partnership will help us to identify and accelerate the adoption of proven methodologies, ensuring that government action is informed by the most robust evidence.”
APPI has also joined the Global Research Impact network, an international consortium of organisations dedicated to maximising engagement and impact of university expertise for the public good.
The Open Innovation Team is a cross-government unit that works with experts to generate analysis and ideas for policy, helping colleagues review evidence, engage experts, develop policy and evaluate impact. Founded in 2016, OIT has delivered over 174 policy projects for customers across government. To date, almost 2,500 experts from 930 organisations have contributed to its work.
