Research on Research Institute: Independent Review of Pilot Phase (2019-2021)

The Research on Research Institute (RoRI) was established in 2019 with a mission to accelerate transformational and translational research on research systems, cultures and decision-making. Its pilot phase ran over two years, from late 2019 to the end of 2021, and its second phase will run for five years, from 2022 to 2027.

In early 2022, RoRI commissioned Carter Research Navigation to provide a rapid-yet-robust, independent review of RoRI’s pilot phase. The primary method was a series of targeted stakeholder interviews, with some examination of documentary materials. The evaluation concludes that RoRI has demonstrated strong overall performance, being well organised and producing some serious, well-designed studies; despite the pandemic restricting interactions. Interviewees were all positively engaged and constructive. 

RoRI has a number of features that are important reasons that participants engage, and need to be protected: an environment of trust; strong co-creation & multiple forms of co-working; funders as partners, subjects and beneficiaries; dialogue being as important as outputs; enabling the translation of research into practice. 

Challenges and areas that need more work in Phase 2 include: supporting diversity, in all its forms; communication and community engagement; the range of translational and innovation pathways; ongoing partner and stakeholder engagement; data sharing; and organisational, intellectual and economic sustainability.