Springer Nature, in partnership with Overton, today released a landmark global report offering the most comprehensive evidence yet on how academic research informs sustainable development policy. Launched during the 30th United Nations Climate Conference (COP30), the analysis draws from more than 12 million policy documents worldwide, providing an unprecedented look at how governments, multilateral agencies, NGOs, and think tanks use scholarly evidence to guide action on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The study finds that SDG-related policy documents cite academic research significantly more frequently than non-SDG policy texts, highlighting a growing global reliance on scientific insights to shape decisions on climate action, public health, energy transition, and social development.
One of the report’s most striking findings is India’s exceptional performance in integrating its own research into national SDG policymaking. Alongside Australia and Brazil, India cites domestic research in 41% of SDG-related policy documents, far surpassing the global average, which remains below 10% for most countries.
Of these citations, 28% are exclusively from Indian-authored research and 13% come from international collaborations
India’s strong domestic uptake is credited to a robust public research ecosystem—where more than half of national research output comes from government-funded institutions—and the increasing involvement of Indian academics in national policy advisory bodies.
Globally, the majority of SDG-policy citations (78%) refer to research authored in the Global North. India and Brazil are notable exceptions, demonstrating stronger integration of home-grown research into national decision-making.
The report highlights that India has recorded a 17% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) in SDG-focused research from 2016 to 2024, and a 16% CAGR since 2000—placing it among the world’s fastest-growing contributors to sustainability research. India now produces 5% of global SDG research, making it a significant hub for sustainability scholarship.
Indian SDG research also shows, higher citation impact, stronger global attention, and greater academic visibility compared to the country’s non-SDG research output, indicating that India’s sustainability research is shaping both domestic and international policy dialogues.
The global analysis uncovers several important patterns in how research shapes policy:
- Open-access (OA) research is cited nearly a year earlier in policy documents than paywalled research.
- Reviews, letters, and news-style academic content—despite representing a small share of publications—are highly cited due to their concise, accessible, and policy-friendly formats.
- Think tanks, NGOs, and intergovernmental organisations cite research more often than governments, reinforcing their role as knowledge brokers.
- Inclusive, non-selective journals are slightly more likely to be cited in SDG policy than highly selective journals, underscoring that validated research from any venue can drive policy outcomes.
While many low- and middle-income nations show strong uptake of open-access research in policy, India’s SDG policy citations still favour non-OA literature. The report identifies a clear opportunity: expanding open-access publishing within Indian institutions could significantly enhance the global visibility and policy impact of domestic research, enabling faster adoption of evidence in decision-making.
The report concludes with recommendations for research institutions, publishers, policymakers, and knowledge intermediaries:
- Expand open-access pathways to accelerate knowledge exchange and equitable access.
- Produce more policy-ready formats, including reviews and short-form summaries that meet policymakers’ needs.
- Strengthen collaborations across government, academia, publishers, and think tanks to ensure research is translated into actionable policy solutions.
As the world intensifies efforts toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, this analysis provides critical insights into how science-driven policymaking can accelerate progress and foster more resilient, evidence-informed development pathways.
