A review of a decade of research for the Scotland & Northern Ireland Forum for Environmental Research and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency has concluded it was of good calibre and relevant and suggests rules for ensuring maximum future impact.
The bodies commissioned Laura Meagher to review 16 projects from each of their programmes to see how they had been used, how they performed, their benefits and what made a successful partnership.
She concluded the research had had a positive impact and definable benefits.
"The review also allows SEPA and SNIFFER to develop future programmes to maximise the benefits and impacts, which will be invaluable as research becomes an increasingly important tool for innovation within the context of declines in funding streams," says the final report.
"This work has provided many insights into research and how we think about the impacts gained from it. It has shown that there are various quantitative and qualitative outcomes, which can take over five years to be realised."
The golden rules suggest researchers need to hold early dialogue with stakeholders, understand their needs, focus on relevance and practicality, agree follow-on actions and disseminate clearly and effectively.
It says stakeholders should be clear about their needs and engage in early dialogue as well as planning ahead for utilisation and dissemination and embedding findings.
There are also suggestions for SNIFFER and SEPA.
