Round table: Academic institutions and regional governments: two worlds apart?

Abstract

Abstract Partnerships can be described as voluntary, equal and binding agreements between different stakeholders about cooperation and efforts towards a common goal. Partnerships are especially seen as a necessary and important factor within governance and for solving complex “wicked problems”. This is reflected both in the European health policy framework Health 2020 and in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, where the development of partnerships is described as an important tool for achieving goals and obtaining sustainability. Partnerships between regional governments and academic institutions could be especially important, as many countries in Europe delegate power and responsibility for public health to the regional and local level. As regional academic institutions have local knowledge, they might be in a better position for adding more value into collaboration with the health professionals and policy makers working in regional governments. However, public health partnerships between regional governments and academic institutions are not straight forward, as the operationalization, conceptualization, and prioritization of public health issues varies across sectors. Several pitfalls for successful partnerships have also been identified, such as hidden unwillingness to share information or resources, rapid policy and organizational shifts, resistant ‘silo mentality’, and difficulties to establish evidence of impact. When partnerships are made between academic environments and the practical level in the public sector, different views upon what is actually knowledge and evidence, and how to translate knowledge into practice, lead to challenges. In this workshop, the complex relationships between academia and practice are discussed, both by examining advantages and by taking a critical stance. The results from a survey of 31 regions within the WHO Regions for Health (RHN) on partnerships will be presented, describing the occurrence of partnerships, how public health partnerships are formalized and organized, important enablers, how collaborations are carried out in practice, perceived benefits and success, and experienced challenges. This will further be elaborated on in a panel discussion between representatives from four regions with longstanding experience with public health partnerships between regional government and academic institutions, sharing examples, experiences and good advice. Key messages Despite representing different worlds, partnerships between regional governments and academic institutions are powerful and effective structures to address public health challenges. Sustainable partnerships should patiently be developed through building mutual understanding and trust between motivated individuals representing both academia and regional governments.