Short abstract

Researchers often struggle to find opportunities to engage with policy, while policymakers face hurdles in accessing relevant expertise. This research presents a centralised repository that aggregates policy engagement opportunities into a single, accessible platform.

Long abstract

The integration of research evidence into policymaking is critical for addressing global challenges, yet academic-policy engagement remains fragmented and inefficient. Researchers often struggle to find relevant opportunities to contribute their expertise, while policymakers face difficulties identifying and accessing the right research. These barriers slow the translation of knowledge into policy action and limit the role of metascience in improving institutional decision-making.

This research presents a metascientific intervention: a centralised repository that aggregates policy engagement opportunities—such as calls for evidence, advisory roles, and collaborative research initiatives—into a single, accessible platform. By reducing logistical barriers and leveraging AI-driven discovery tools, this system strengthens institutional research cultures, fosters inclusive participation, and accelerates knowledge exchange between academia and policy.

By applying structured data, natural language processing (NLP), and automated policy-matching algorithms, this work demonstrates how digital infrastructure can systematically connect researchers with policy needs. Overton Engage provides a scalable solution for identifying relevant research in real time. Integrating this approach into institutional processes enables governments, funders, and universities to streamline knowledge mobilisation, making policy engagement more efficient, transparent, and inclusive.

This work highlights the potential for long-term alliances between academia, policymakers, and infrastructure providers to sustain and scale these innovations. By embedding data-driven engagement mechanisms within research institutions, this approach offers a model for optimising academic-policy interactions and ensuring that research systems continuously evolve to meet society’s most pressing challenges.