Understanding the dynamics of research-policy fellowships: an evaluative analysis of barriers and blockages

This article presents findings from an evaluative study of the first cohort of Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) Policy Fellows (2021-2023), identifying challenges at the research-policy nexus to refine the evidence base for future mobility investments and contribute to broader debates about knowledge-exchange and boundary-spanning.

An initial desk-based review of the existing research on barriers and analysis of survey data previously collected by the ESRC informed design of semi-structured interviews (the focus of this article). Interviews were conducted with 18 fellows and ten policy host representatives. Transcripts underwent thematic analysis through multiple rounds of coding and theme development in relation to 'barriers and blockages'.

Nine main 'barriers and blockages' were identified in the research: opaque expectations; competing pressures; managing complexity; boundary-spanning stretch; strategic support; administrative absorption; academic absorption; spatial (im)mobilities; silos and hierarchies. Several of these issues were either under-acknowledged or absent within the existing knowledge and research base.

Facilitating the mobility of people within research, development and innovation 'ecosystems' remains a core strategic goal of funders and governments around the world. An increasing number of R2P fellowships (and policy-to-research secondments) are being established, but often on the basis of a weak or non-existent evidential basis with regard to 'what works'. This article contributes to remedying this gap and identifies new research themes.