Major ‘Research for Policy’ conference with Irish and EU policymakers

A major ‘Research for Policy’ conference with Irish and EU policymakers, researchers and practitioners was held to support the strengthening of connections between research and policy in Ireland.

UCD in partnership with Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science and Maynooth University held the one-day event, themed 'Co-creating a stronger research-for-policy ecosystem in Ireland' to further the national conversation about how we build systemic, coordinated connections between research and policy, so that high-quality evidence can more readily inform all stages of the policymaking process.

Conference delegates heard keynote addresses from (opens in a new window)Prof David Budtz Pedersen, Professor of Science Communication and Impact Studies at Aalborg University, and(opens in a new window)Sarah Chaytor, Director of Research Strategy and Policy, University College London, and Co-Chair of the UK Universities Policy Engagement Network.

Speaking at the conference, UCD Vice President for Strategy and External Engagement, (opens in a new window)Triona McCormack, said: “Universities are significant partners in advancing evidence-informed policymaking. Ireland’s universities, including University College Dublin, are committed to growing our capacity to inform public policy through our research and education, facilitating the exchange of people and ideas through partnerships with policymakers.”

UCD Policy Interface supported the conference through funding from the Higher Education Authority. This new initiative aims to develop and strengthen links between researchers and policy professionals, through training, collaborative events, and exchange programmes and complements the existing strong base of UCD work in the research-for- policy arena.

More information on the conference and the full list of speakers is available on the conference on the UCD Policy Interface website.