The paper begins with an introduction to Singapore and Singapore’s education system,
highlighting the constraints faced by Singapore as a small economy with limited human capital,
research expertise and research funding. It then describes how we have framed the problem of
knowledge mobilization theoretically, its key differences with traditional knowledge utilization
frameworks, and how and why Singaporean researchers, policy makers and practitioners have
attempted to mobilize knowledge through development of a strategically focused national
Research, Development and Innovation (RD&I) Program. This framework is carefully calibrated
to heighten the likelihood that education research will produce knowledge that is both rigorous
and relevant to policy and practice (production), that knowledge will be shared in a timely and
appropriate manner (mediation) among all stakeholders, and that it will be adopted,
internalized and socialized by users in ways that impact policies and school practices
(application). The paper then ends with a discussion of how the Singapore experience,
2
notwithstanding its unique context, may contribute to the international education research
community’s drive to increase its impact on policy and practice.