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When the London Research and Policy Partnership (LRaPP) was launched by the 91app in July 2021, co-founder Professor Ben Rogers wrote:

It feels as if partnerships between academic researchers and large cities are in their infancy. But they have huge potential. Our partnership puts London in a position to lead the way.

Highlights

CAPE Policy Fellowships and UCL Policy Fellowship 

are researchers, academics, and professional services staff based at CAPE universities who undertake policy fellowships in local, regional, and government and other policy organisations. LRaPP's two CAPE fellows have recently been embedded in the Greater London Authority. The UCL Policy Fellowship provides policy makers with access to leading researchers with the aim of supporting the development of evidence-informed policy and fostering collaboration between academics and policy professionals. Key insights have been shared in blogs, a , and reports. 

We know there could be huge benefits in London’s universities and London government working more closely together but we also know that partnerships between academics and policymakers don’t always gel

Says Professor Jo Fox, Pro-Vice Chancellor Research and Engagement, and Dean of the School of Advanced Study. 

We are extremely grateful to CAPE for funding two Policy Fellows, Sarah Jasim and Ilias Krystallis, to help LRaPP understand what researchers and public servants want from each other and how they can best work together. Their research and the highly practical advice will be helpful not just to LRaPP but similar partnerships in other regions.

, says: 

Our inaugural policy fellows did a brilliant job, not only identifying the barriers to stronger interaction between the worlds of policymaking and academia, but also providing a clear roadmap to a brighter future, rigorously researched and clearly synthesised. I would like to thank Sarah and Ilias for their huge contribution to the London Research and Policy Partnership: there is a huge opportunity to tap and their work gives us a great foundation to build on.

Calls for evidence on London policy challenges, such as the levelling up agenda and mentoring provision 

LRaPP has published calls for evidence on strategic-level London policy challenges and these initiatives have resulted in a number of reports that can be read on the Projects webpage.

Joint funding successes 

LRaPP successfully delivered phase 1 of a UKRI Local Policy Innovation Partnership, building a strong coalition of supporters on ways to deliver the Mayor of London’s mission of making London a net zero city by 2030. LRaPP also hosted a four-part conversation series with experts exploring a just transition to net zero in more depth, and joined a consortium of ten London universities on a successful Research England Development Fund bid to deliver a London Social Ventures Fund.

Getting the word out

LRaPP's influence is shown in its strong base of over 1,500 followers of its newsletter, social media, blogs, and podcasts. As a “network of networks” it contributes to a wide range of pan-London organisations (for example, the Local and Regional Authority Academic Advisers network, the London Policy & Strategy Network, the Universities Policy Engagement Network, the London Engagement Collaborative, and the Big South London Partnership, to name a few). 

What’s next?

• Policy Fellows

  Building on the success of the CAPE-funded Policy Fellows, LRaPP aims to extend the scheme, hosting at least two Fellows whose roles would include brokering cross-sector research that focuses on addressing London challenges.

• Identifying partnership opportunities

  LRaPP is developing a bespoke, digital matchmaking tool that allows policymakers and academics to connect with each other over shared interests.

• Responsive research
  
  LRaPP will publish Areas of Research Interest (ARIs) that set out questions on which policymakers want academic input, supporting researchers to respond to policy needs and maximising research impact. The ARIs will complement regular policy roundtables.

• Support for funding bids

  LRaPP is well placed to support funding bids that require applicants to demonstrate how they will bring together a broad coalition of stakeholders and resources.

• Training

  LRaPP plans to develop new, London-level learning modules that will help academic researchers, policymakers, and the business and voluntary sectors learn more about each other’s worlds and to facilitate joint working.

Want to know more?

, follow on or , or contact the team at LondonRaPP@london.ac.uk.