Evaluation methods for RDI programmes: What new methods and approaches are emerging to understand the short-term and long-term impact of public sector RDI investments?
Background
SRID evidence aims to ensure that DSIT’s significant RDI budget is invested effectively and that we understand its impact and value for money. The Science, Technology and Innovation Analysis Team (STIA), the analytical team supporting SRID, develop the evidence base via internal analysis, cross-Whitehall collaboration and externally commissioned research projects. STIA work closely with other analytical teams in DSIT and DSIT’s partner organisations.
STIA continuously work to improve our approach and methods of valuing RDI investment to fully showcase and evidence its value to the UK. We are also interested in developing new real-time performance monitoring tools to allow for more agile decision-making and significantly improve our Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) capabilities. Improving our methodology for measuring economic, social and research benefits of RDI is also our priority.
SRID and STIA want to develop a stronger evidence base of the foundations of the Research Development and Innovation (RDI) system including how to: 1) grow the RDI workforce by improving the domestic pipeline, attracting and retaining the most talented RDI workers and supporting diverse, dynamic and creative careers 2) develop strong and sustainable RDI institutions that foster innovation 3) identify and capitalise on RDI clusters in the UK to support the levelling up agenda.
We also aim to develop a better understanding of how RDI policy can best drive economic growth, better jobs and discoveries. We aim to do this through identifying the best methods for measuring adoption and diffusion of innovation as well as drivers and barriers to innovation to create conditions for an increased investment in innovation.
High quality M&E for all government RDI investments allow us to understand whether programmes are on track to achieve intended outcomes and to identify the impact of the intervention. M&E is also used to track progress against departmental priorities such as stimulating private sector RDI investment and levelling up.
Next steps
If you are keen to register your interest in working and connecting with DSIT Science, Innovation, and Research Directorate, and/or submitting evidence, then please complete the DSIT-ARI Evidence survey - https://dsit.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_cDfmK2OukVAnirs
Link to ARIs : https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/department-for-science-innovation-and-technology-areas-of-research-interest/dsit-areas-of-research-interest-2024
Related UKRI funded projects
-
Innovation & Research Caucus
The ambition of the Innovation and Research Caucus (I&RC) is to establish itself as the go to intermediary for actionable innovation and research funding policy insights. Building on the legacy of the current Innovat...
Funded by: ESRC
Lead research organisation: Oxford Brookes University
Why might this be relevant?
Partially answers the question by focusing on actionable insights and evidence-based funding policy.
-
Unlocking Innovative Potential: Experimentation Fund
Innovation offers huge potential to improve health, better connect people, and make our societies more productive and sustainable. At the same time, it can also fuel inequality. The UK has incredible, diverse talent acro...
Funded by: ESRC
Lead research organisation: NESTA
Why might this be relevant?
The project focuses on expanding and diversifying the R&D sector's workforce and reducing barriers to participation in innovation processes, partially addressing the question.
-
Serendipity in Science, Technology and Innovation
I present the Serendipity proposal, with SPRU (Sussex, UK) and Columbia (NYC, USA), to conduct a body of frontier work on the role, management and impact of serendipity on research performance. The project addresses majo...
Funded by: ESRC
Lead research organisation: University of Sussex
Why might this be relevant?
Partially answers the question by exploring the role of serendipity in research performance and innovation policy.