The UK is one of the most regionally unbalanced economies in the industrialised world. In addition, there are stark socioeconomic divergences within regions, which have grown over the last 50 years. Gaps also exist in political power between national, regional and local government: the UK possesses one of the most centralised systems of governance of any liberal democratic state.
Together, these issues have increased the need for greater engagement between public policy and the academic evidence base at a regional level. As the Director of Insights North East (INE) – a collaboration between universities, local authorities and the National Health Service (NHS) to improve the translation of research into actionable policy options in North East England – I have seen these issues converge to drive new approaches to policymaking.
Reflecting on my visit to Sydney to exchange valuable insights with Australian counterparts, I outline the political and policy context that has driven the creation of INE and share our approach to bridging the gap between research and policymaking.
Read the full blog in The Policymaker here.