AbstractThis section contains papers by Naresh Saxena and Matthew Taylor, drawing on their experience from both sides of research–policy divide. Saxena reviews the complex interplay between research and policy in India. He highlights six key lessons for researchers, including the need to be committed to policy, address high level policy and communicate better. Saxena concludes that ‘some of the best examples of success (in bridging research and policy) have arisen where researchers and civil society organisations have worked well together.’ Matthew Taylor uses examples from the UK to introduce five rules for successful policy entrepreneurship by researchers. First: win the argument about what the problem is before trying to win the argument about what the solution is. Second: understand the vital importance of political context and look for political opportunities. Third: balance persistence and opportunism. Fourth: focus on application and implementation. Fifth: always be strategic, thinking about who might support and oppose a particular change. The section also contains the conference discussion spurred by their interventions. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.