Queen's University Belfast will lead a new £11.5 million AI-driven project that aims to transform how governments worldwide use research evidence to inform decision-making on pressing issues such as climate change, education, and public safety. The project, named METIUS (Mobilising Evidence Through AI and User-informed Synthesis), is funded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), with co-funding from the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT).

Governments often struggle to keep up with the vast amount of scientific research being published, making it difficult to find and use important findings in a timely manner. The METIUS project seeks to address this by creating a faster, more efficient method to deliver the best available evidence directly to policymakers. Professor Sarah Miller from Queen's School of Social Sciences, Education and Social Work will lead the international consortium, which includes partners from UCL, the Campbell Collaboration, and the Pan-African Collective for Evidence. Together, they will use AI to speed up the process of gathering, analysing, and summarising research. They will also create user-friendly tools to help policymakers, launch pilot projects in key areas, and build global networks to support evidence-based decision-making.

Professor Miller described the grant as a "pivotal moment" for the consortium, providing an unprecedented opportunity to make robust evidence more accessible and actionable for decision-makers. Professor Sir Ian Greer, President and Vice-Chancellor of Queen's University Belfast, said the significant investment is a "strong endorsement of the excellence and impact of research at Queen's."

Science Minister Lord Vallance and ESRC Executive Chair Stian Westlake both highlighted the project's potential to use AI to efficiently synthesise research, improve policy outcomes, and strengthen the UK's position as a leader in research and innovation. Andrea Cook, Executive Director of the United Nations Sustainable Development Group, said that access to high-quality evidence is essential for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, and that this initiative is a significant step towards bridging the gap between research and policy.