Decision Intelligence Briefs | No. 2: How scientific knowledge enters policymaking
Mapping the institutions, networks, and mechanisms that connect expertise to decision-making.
Editor’s Note: Decision Intelligence Briefs provide concise strategic analysis rooted in the legacy of structured decision science. Each monthly briefing maps emerging institutions, governance frameworks, strategic risks and opportunities shaping international scientific cooperation.
The introduction and strategic outlook are open to all readers. The full briefing and downloadable PDF edition are available to paid subscribers.
Decision Intelligence Briefs | No. 2
The Science Diplomat
July 2026
How scientific knowledge enters policymaking
Mapping the institutions, networks, and mechanisms that connect expertise to decision-making.
Scientific knowledge rarely moves directly from researchers to policymakers. Between the production of knowledge and the exercise of political authority sits a largely invisible ecosystem of assessment bodies, advisory mechanisms, academies, policy institutes, and international networks that evaluate evidence, broker expertise, and translate scientific findings into forms that decision-makers can use.
This brief maps that institutional architecture and examines how scientific knowledge enters policymaking at national and international levels.
Strategic outlook
Three structural trends are reshaping the global landscape of science advice.
Governments are investing in science advisory capacity.
Countries are expanding the use of chief science advisers, advisory councils, and science-for-policy mechanisms to address complex policy challenges.
International organizations are strengthening scientific assessment systems.
From climate change and public health to artificial intelligence and emerging technologies, international institutions are relying more heavily on expert assessments to inform global governance processes.
Decision-makers are confronting growing uncertainty.
Rapid technological change, geopolitical tensions, and long-term systemic risks are increasing demand for institutions capable not only of generating evidence but also of helping leaders navigate uncertainty.
These dynamics are transforming science advice from a specialized advisory function into a strategic component of governance and international cooperation.
Why this Brief matters
Governments rarely suffer from a shortage of information. The challenge is identifying which knowledge is relevant, credible, timely, and actionable.
Scientific expertise reaches policymakers through a diverse ecosystem of advisers, academies, assessment bodies, expert panels, international organizations, and informal networks. Understanding how the systems operate helps explain how evidence enters decision-making and why some forms of knowledge shape policy while others do not.
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