New national network Evidence Exchange to enable public servants to connect with research organisations

Apolitical is pleased to partner with an exceptional consortium of academic institutions including the University of Cambridge to develop new UK-wide infrastructure and networks, strengthening the critical ‘research to policy' nexus for civil servants, universities and research organisations.

Led by the Centre for Science and Policy at the University of Cambridge, the consortium is funded by a new £3.75m grant from the Economic and Social Research Council.

The Evidence Exchange (EvEx) consortium includes King’s College London, University of Edinburgh, Swansea University, Queen’s University Belfast, University of Manchester and University College London. Project partners include the Universities Policy Engagement Network (UPEN), the Scottish Policy Research Exchange (SPRE), the Resolution Foundation and Apolitical. At the University of Cambridge, the Centre for Study of Existential Risk is also part of the consortium.

Launching on 1 February 2026, the Evidence Exchange project will:

• Develop a Digital Campus

  to promote academic and policy exchange schemes and courses for public and civil servants, making opportunities easier to find and access.

• Create professional development initiatives

  to equip public and civil servants with the skills and knowledge needed for effective public service today.

• Introduce innovative methods

  to develop communities of co-creation, including policy hackathons, sandpits, workshops and policy labs.

• Build relationships

  through extended Policy Fellowships and secondments for public and civil servants, and a new project matching policy contacts to research projects UK-wide - a Research Programme Policy Exchange.

• Extend capacity

  in the nations and regions of the UK, working with project partners and commissioning activity, while building a UK-wide, sustained community.

These activities will help improve public policy decisions and outcomes, drawing on research expertise and evidence from across the UK, and sharing learning and skills development between researchers and public and civil servants.

Nicola Buckley, Director of Fellowships & Networks, Centre for Science and Policy, and Project Lead for Evidence Exchange, said:

‘We are looking forward to developing this national Policy to Research infrastructure with partners, meeting and generating demand for learning and exchange between public and civil servants and research organisations. We know that taking the knowledge and skills needs of public and civil servants as the stimulus for research-policy engagement is an effective pathway to evidence-informed policy. The Evidence Exchange will enable more organisations to participate than ever before, diversifying this activity across the UK.’

Dr James Canton, Deputy Director, Innovation and Public Policy, Economic and Social Research Council, UK Research and Innovation, said:

"This investment marks a significant step in strengthening the connection between research and policymaking across the UK. While initiatives like the UKRI Policy Fellowships have helped bring researchers closer to government, policymakers have lacked an equivalent mechanism to engage universities directly. By building a robust policy-to-research infrastructure, we are filling this gap and enabling policymakers to access world-class evidence and expertise, build skills and enhance collaboration. ESRC is proud to champion this initiative, which will support the delivery of government priorities and ensure that research informs public policy that has a positive impact on people’s lives and livelihoods."

Consultation with those responsible for civil and public service learning, and across the research sector, will take place during the first six months of the project, shaping the delivery phase.