Governments often struggle to access the technical and scientific expertise needed for informed policymaking. Despite having smart people, systems for recruiting and retaining specialized talent—especially in fast-moving fields like AI and climate science—remain outdated. This creates a gap between what policymakers need to know and the expertise available to them.

A Multichannel Approach to Expertise Access

One way to address this could be through an integrated system that creates multiple pathways for governments to tap into technical knowledge:

• Redesigned hiring: Streamlining recruitment to attract STEM professionals while keeping civil service standards
• Rotation programs: Structured temporary exchanges between government, academia, and industry
• On-demand networks: Formal systems to consult external experts when specific needs arise
• Retention strategies: Creating clear career paths to keep technical talent engaged in public service

A central coordination office could manage these channels while identifying expertise gaps across different government departments.

Making the System Work for All Stakeholders

For such a system to succeed, it would need to align incentives for all involved:

• Government leaders want expertise without bureaucratic red tape
• Technical professionals seek meaningful work with real-world impact
• Universities aim to demonstrate the practical value of their research
• The private sector benefits from well-informed regulations

Solutions to common challenges might include special hiring authorities for technical roles, emphasizing non-monetary benefits of government work, and creating flexible positions that accommodate academic schedules.

Building on What Already Exists

Current programs like the US Presidential Innovation Fellows or UK Government Office for Science show pieces of this concept working in isolation. The proposed system would combine their strengths while adding better integration, more flexible engagement models, and continuous feedback mechanisms.

While primarily a government function, such a system could potentially generate revenue through consulting services for local governments or licensing any assessment tools developed. The key advantage would be creating institutional memory around expertise access—a persistent challenge across governments worldwide.