Why Most Research Ends in Journals: The Cultural and Institutional Trap

What if the most groundbreaking discoveries never left the pages of academic journals?

Across Africa and beyond, researchers are solving real problems—on paper. Yet too often, that’s where it ends. Why? Because systems built to reward publication rarely incentivise practical application. It's time we ask the hard question: Is research really complete if it never reaches the people it was meant to help?

In universities and research institutions around the world, success is measured by publications, citations, and peer-reviewed recognition. These metrics matter—but they’re not the whole story. When the primary goal is “publish or perish,” research often stays locked in libraries and databases. Cultural expectations reward theoretical output, while institutional frameworks rarely support—or even understand—implementation.

This academic tunnel vision creates what we call the research-to-impact gap. Even research with clear practical value—on health innovations, digital tools, climate solutions, or social behaviour—can remain invisible to policymakers, businesses, or communities who need it. As a result, billions are spent generating knowledge that is never used.

Imagine a different reality

One where your findings drive public health programs, launch tech products, inform new policies, or power social enterprises. This is not a fantasy. Around the world, researchers are commercialising their discoveries, co-founding ventures, and partnering with industry, NGOs, and government to turn insight into action.

In Africa especially, the need for applied solutions has never been greater—and the potential impact of translational research has never been more powerful. With the right tools, mindsets, and networks, researchers can become catalysts of real-world change. But first, we must dismantle the systems that trap research on the page and never in practice.

Approaches to Monetizing your Research

1 December 2025 at 10:00 – 4 December 2025 at 16:00|Lekki

Register Now

The Translational Research Forum is designed to equip scholars, innovators, and institutional leaders with the mindset and tools to break this trap. Our two-day experience brings together policymakers, funders, academics, and entrepreneurs to explore new ways of thinking—and doing.

Join keynote sessions like “From Publication to Product: Why Implementation Matters”, and learn from those who have turned findings into funded ventures. Engage in panels such as “Success Stories: Researchers Who Built Impact Ventures” and “Commercialising Research in Low-Resource Contexts.” Dive into hands-on workshops on IP protection, business model canvassing, and policy translation.

The goal?

To create an ecosystem where research no longer ends in journals, but in change. Whether you’re a PhD candidate, a senior lecturer, or a policy-focused think tank, this forum offers a launchpad—not just for your ideas, but for your impact.

🟤 Call to Action

Don’t let your research gather dust.

Let it gather momentum.

Join us at the Translational Research Forum and connect with a growing movement of change-minded scholars. Learn how to translate your research into tools, policies, ventures—or transformation.

👉 Register now and take the first step from publication to practical change.