DCMS Launches College of Experts to Strengthen Evidence-Based Policymaking
58 leading experts from academia and industry will provide dynamic support across departmental policy areas
24 July 2025
A new era for evidence-led policymaking is underway as the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) unveils its College of Experts—a strategic initiative aimed at embedding top-tier external expertise into every area of its policy work.
Among the 58 specialists appointed is Professor Jonathan Sapsed, Professor of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Newcastle University Business School, recognised for his extensive work on innovation ecosystems, creative industries, and regional economic development.
Professor Sapsed’s appointment reinforces the School’s commitment to impactful research and engagement at the highest levels of government. His inclusion in the College will support DCMS in developing policies that are research-led, resilient, and responsive to both national and regional priorities.
Expert advice, on demand
Led by the DCMS Chief Scientific Adviser (CSA) team, led by Professor Tom Crick, the College offers a flexible and dynamic approach to integrating expert input into policy development. It supplements existing networks within the department and enables long-term, systematic access to a diverse range of knowledge.
College members were selected through an open and transparent process, ensuring a breadth of expertise relevant to DCMS’s wide-ranging portfolio—including science, technology, digital innovation, culture, media, sport, and the creative industries.
Professor Sapsed said: “Government departments are increasingly concerned to use academic knowledge for advice, validation and quality assurance of their work. In the first phase of the DCMS College I was able to inform the research agenda for the Creative Industries Sector Vision and in this new iteration I’m advising on how AI is affecting organisations and jobs. This type of work helps DCMS keep abreast of trends and what might be coming up next.”
Supporting research priorities
Experts within the College will support the department in a number of ways, which includes:
- participating in specialist working groups aligned with DCMS’s Areas of Research Interest (ARIs)
- providing ad hoc advice and analysis to policy and analytical teams
- strengthening the scientific networks available to the Chief Scientific Adviser and broader DCMS teams
By doing so, the College will help identify emerging research needs, improve access to technical insight, and support a more agile and informed policymaking process.