Between relevance and reach: knowledge exchange among higher education researchers and ministry officials in Germany

Abstract This study examines how higher education researchers and science ministry officials in Germany perceive knowledge exchange, based on parallel surveys examining relevance, exchange partners, formats, information sources, thematic priorities, barriers, and improvement measures. Findings reveal that both groups support research-informed policymaking, yet direct interaction remains limited. Ministry officials engage primarily with university administration and management, while higher education researchers participate minimally in governance formats, with access tied to seniority and position. Information sources show limited alignment between researchers’ production and ministries’ use, while thematic priorities converge around governance, strategic development, and data use. However, researchers report higher access barriers—lacking platforms, entrance obstacles, weak institutional support—suggesting that limited exchange reflects structural access asymmetries rather than a lack of willingness. Together, these patterns reveal that exchange is valued yet selectively channelled through established interfaces, limiting mutual exchange. This bilateral comparison advances understanding of science-policy relations in German higher education governance.