Academic insights rarely serve as the foundation for public policy.

Researchers often feel unheard; policymakers say they lack the time and resources to navigate voluminous, complex academic material. Both are right.

The gap between science and policy is systemic. Academia speaks in theories; governments speak in indicators. Researchers operate on multi-year timelines; ministries often work within weeks. Academia is driven by knowledge creation and publication; public institutions focus on reporting and practical outcomes.

The challenge of aligning science and policy is global. Researchers and policymakers often operate in separate spheres, with misaligned timelines, languages and incentives. In Central Asia, where countries simultaneously face climate risks, digital inequality, social tensions and institutional transitions, this disconnect is especially acute.

This notion was echoed repeatedly during the seminar “Innovations in Research Methodologies: Exploring New Methods in Economics, Energy and Climate Change,” held by the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs (NUPI) this past spring. The discussions covered not only methodological innovation but also practical research in areas such as the energy transition, climate vulnerability, sustainable development and circular economy.

During a session focused on Central Asia, the discussion explored the need to establish more effective communication channels between science and policy, and how UNDP contributes to bridging the gap between research and governance.

Aligning the worlds of analysis and action

UNDP does not seek to act as an arbiter between science and policy. Instead, it builds infrastructure for collaboration - mechanisms that allow data, expertise and policy interests to converge.

One such mechanism is Policy Labs - co-creation platforms for policy innovation. In Uzbekistan, foresight sessions on the “green transition” were held in 2023, bringing together the Ministry of Economy, universities and international experts to develop adaptive scenarios for sustainable development. The sessions produced a signals database, narrative scenarios and key insights to guide future programming on sustainability. Building on these ideas, UNDP — with support from the Government of Japan — has launched a decarbonization project that pilots energy-efficiency improvements in schools, hospitals and public transport.

Through the EU-AGRIN project. UNDP Uzbekistan also brings together scientists, academia and government ministries for an innovative partnership to address pressing challenges in agriculture.

In 2023, as part of the global Accelerator Labs network, UNDP in Kazakhstan worked with local partners to design experiments for improving air quality in Almaty under the City Experiment Fund. Its lessons continue to inform UNDP’s urban sustainability work in the country.

The Data Futures Exchange (DFx), designed by UNDP, provides an open platform combining datasets, forecasts and analytical tools. It is used by researchers and analysts to generate scenarios, policy briefs and data-driven insights.

This ecosystem is complemented by dialogue platforms such as Istanbul Innovation Days, Istanbul Development Dialogues and the Kapuscinski Lectures, where academics, practitioners and public officials exchange ideas on sustainable development challenges.

The most notable example of effectively bridging the science-policy divide is UNDP’s Human Development Report (HDR), which focus on multidimensional aspects of human well-being. Published annually since 1990, they put research into the spotlight to guide policy discussions and recommendations, encouraging policymakers to look beyond traditional economic metrics like GDP and focus on more holistic measures of progress.

UNDP does not operate in a void. In Central Asia, for example, science-policy engagement is already taking place through a range of ways.

National scientific councils help define priorities for applied research. Intergovernmental organizations, such as the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea, the International Science and Technology Center and the Turkic Academy, engage researchers in shaping environmental, non-proliferation and cultural policies. UNDP can reinforce and connect these efforts, particularly within the development agenda. By connecting national initiatives to regional platforms and peer learning networks, we can align scientific contributions with shared regional goals such as environmental sustainability, resilience and digital transformation.

Science in a language everyone understands

Even the most advanced platforms will fall short if science continues to speak only to itself. A shift to clear, public-facing scientific communication is essential. Tools like policy briefs, data visualization, storytelling and short videos help science engage effectively with both governments and societies. At the same time, decision-makers should find more time to read and learn from these materials, incorporating this as an integral part of their work.

Knowledge popularization is no longer a side effect; it is part of an impact strategy. It is also a means to counter pseudoscience and disinformation - especially in the era of social media.

When we talk about partnerships, they are frequently associated with funding. However, partnerships can also mean connecting entities in pursuit of a common good.  With its mandate at the intersection of governance, development and innovation, UNDP is uniquely positioned to connect research communities with policy actors.

Science and policy do not have to become one. But they do have to listen to each other. UNDP can serve not only as a platform, but as a translator - bridging the language of science with the logic of decision-making. Doing so requires more than spaces for dialogue; it requires a cultural shift: respect for knowledge, patience for explanation, and openness to interpretation. And while the examples here focus on Central Asia, these insights can resonate across other both developed and emerging regions.