An impact assessment has been carried out of the Finnish Academy of Science and Letters’ knowledge brokering work in 2022–2026. The ministries have been satisfied with how quickly the knowledge syntheses were produced, as well as with their quality and usefulness. The joint discussions in Science Sparring sessions, in turn, strengthened ministry experts’ sense that researchers are there to help them.
The impact of knowledge brokering is a multidimensional process, and demonstrating cause and effect is difficult. The knowledge base for policy preparation draws on a wide range of sources, and even for those involved in the preparation, it can be hard to assess the significance of any single piece of information. The assessment therefore focused on evaluating progress towards the goals of the knowledge brokering work.
In total, in 2023–2026:
- 14 Science Sparring sessions were held, with 92 different researchers and 50 different civil servants taking part
- 23 knowledge syntheses were published, with contributions from 184 researchers from various universities and research institutes
- around 100 participants from different organisations attended the national knowledge brokers’ network meetings
Science Sparrings
Successes:
- In the ministries, the sparring sessions have helped to identify overlooked perspectives and to understand complex phenomena in new ways. Content from Science Sparring sessions has been taken directly into policy preparation.
- Through multidisciplinary discussions, researchers have gained new perspectives on their own research topics and have connected with researchers from other fields.
Challenges:
- Successful science–policy interaction does not necessarily guarantee that the knowledge will be used, as many factors influence policy preparation, such as other information and political objectives.
- Science Sparring can at times appear to be a one-off method, offering knowledge at a single point in what is often a lengthy preparation process.
Knowledge syntheses
Successes:
- For the ministries, knowledge syntheses have offered a new way of gathering existing research and researchers’ expertise. Compared with commissioning new research, the process is lighter and faster. Excerpts from these evidence briefs have been incorporated directly into preparatory documents.
- Researchers have later used the syntheses in their own work, for example in presentations and public speeches.
Challenges:
- The knowledge synthesis process is not sufficiently transparent to outsiders regarding the choices and scoping involved: why only certain perspectives or topics are covered, how the researchers were selected, and how the knowledge is ultimately used.
Knowledge brokering competences
Successes:
- Guides for knowledge brokering and science-for-policy engagement (the Researcher’s Handbook on Science for Policy and the A How-To Guide on Science Sparring), peer learning programmes (e.g. the Science Sparring Masterclass), and building and maintaining a national network of knowledge brokers have strengthened knowledge brokering competence and helped people recognise their own work as knowledge brokering.
- Lessons from the Academy’s knowledge brokering work have also spread internationally and inspired actors outside Finland.
Challenges:
- The knowledge brokering profession is still at an early stage of development.
- Only a small number of researchers and civil servants are aware of the Academy’s knowledge brokering work.
Read the Summary of the impact assessment in English.
The assessment was based on stakeholder interviews, participant surveys, and the Academy’s own databases. The work was carried out by Tommi Kärkkäinen, doctoral researcher at Tampere University while working at the Academy.