Table 1 Outline of case studies

“Development of Risk Model” case study [20]

This case study focused on the development of a risk-based approach for clinical trial inspections in the Netherlands and had to deliver risk models to enable ranking and stratified selection of clinical trials for inspection by the Dutch Health Care Inspectorate. These models had to contribute to the Inspectorate’s objective of using scientific knowledge for evidence-based supervision. We found that RIVM and the Inspectorate had divergent views on their collaboration and the ownership of the knowledge product, which resulted in different expectations. Researchers and commissioning inspectors were not aware of these different perceptions. We identified six relevant categories of both horizontal alignment efforts (between investigators and key users) and vertical alignment efforts (within RIVM and the Inspectorate organization) that affected the contributions to the Inspectorate’s work. Relevant alignment efforts became manifest at three levels: the first level directly concerned the project, the second level concerned the organizational environment, and the third level concerned the formal and historical relationship between the organizations.

Case study on Dutch Health Care Performance Report [22]

The second case study concerned the Dutch Health Care Performance Report (DHCPR). The DHCPR is published by RIVM and commissioned by the Dutch Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport in 2006, 2008, 2010, and 2014 [27]. Based on a scientific framework, the DHCPR monitors health care performance in the Netherlands by using indicators for quality, accessibility, and affordability. The aim of the report is to contribute to “strategic policymaking”. We identified six areas where alignment is specifically relevant for enhancing the contributions of future DHCPR editions: well-balanced information for different ministerial directorates, backstage work, double-role actors, reports published by other knowledge institutes, data collection and generation, and presentation formats.

Case study on Public Health Status and Forecasts Report [21]

The third case study concerned the Dutch Public Health Status and Forecasts Report (PHSF), which integrates research data and identifies future trends in public health in the Netherlands [28]. The PHSF has a recognized function in connecting the science and policy domains because it is embedded in the national health policy cycle by law. The PHSF provides the policy themes for the National Health Memorandum (NHM), which is published every 4 years by the Minister of Health, Welfare and Sport. The PHSF2010 process included activities aimed at alignment between researchers and policymakers, such as informal meetings. However, we identified three issues that are easily overlooked in knowledge production, but provide suggestions for enhancing contributions: awareness of divergent, continuously changing actor scenarios; vertical alignment within the organizations involved; and careful timing of draft products to create early adopters.