2026 Global Innovation Conference for Research, Policy, and Practice

The Impact Funders Forum and the Centre for Evidence and Implementation are pleased to co-host the 2026 Global Innovation Conference for Research, Policy, and Practice (formerly the Transforming Evidence Network Conference).

Building on past conferences in Miami (2022) and Cape Town, South Africa (2024), the gathering will bring together an international community of experts studying and creating innovative models for tying research to societal needs and decision-making. Attendees will include researchers, practitioners, industry leaders, policymakers, and funders working on a diverse array of topics, such as health, education, environment, technology, and economic mobility. Conference attendees will have opportunities to gain new insights from innovations around the world, engage in cross-sector networking, and develop collaborations to maximize the impact of research and evidence.   

Topic areas include:

• The latest scholarship and methodologies about ensuring research and evidence are useful, used, and trusted to make a difference in the world.
• Innovations that support more consistent research translation into policy, practice, and benefits for communities.

• Strategies to institutionalize and scale effective approaches that increase the reach and impact of research and evidence.
• Key drivers of change in the global research ecosystem, including artificial intelligence, shifting information landscapes, global coordination, and trust in science.

The conference will also launch IMPACT, a new journal and online platform for advancing knowledge and practice about the societal impact of research, which will connect and grow the expertise and deep knowledge of this global community.

The Impact Funders Forum, facilitated by the Pew Charitable Trusts, unites philanthropic and public funders from diverse sectors to close the gap between research and outcomes. The Centre for Evidence and Implementation is a global evidence intermediary and advisory organization dedicated to using the best evidence in practice and policy to improve people’s lives.

Please note that this conference is an invitation-only event. Please contact Rumeli Banik ([email protected]) with questions.