Founded in 2019, the Swiss Implementation Science Network (IMPACT; https://impact-dph.unibas.ch) aims to strengthen the systematic uptake of evidence into healthcare and public health practice in Switzerland and beyond [1–3]. By fostering collaboration across research, policy, public health, clinical care, and communities, IMPACT seeks to improve population health, reduce research waste, and accelerate the translation of innovations into real-world settings. Implementation science (IS) is the scientific study of methods that promote the integration of evidence-based interventions into routine practice [4]. Core IS approaches include contextual analysis of multilevel barriers and facilitators (e.g., assessment of readiness for change [5, 6], continuous stakeholder engagement and co-creation, theory- and contextual-informed implementation strategies, theory- and contextual-informed intervention development/adaptation, and evaluation of both effectiveness and implementation outcomes [2].

At the third IMPACT conference in Geneva in November 2024, experts and 126 participants discussed how IS can enhance the societal impact of research and support timely, equitable uptake of evidence across healthcare and public health. This paper summarizes key insights from the roundtable on positioning IS within research infrastructures, together with findings from an interactive poll on expectations of the IMPACT network. We highlight the potential of IS to improve healthcare and outline priorities to strengthen its capacity and infrastructure in Switzerland.

A substantial proportion of health research fails to translate into practice, delaying benefits for patients and populations [7–9]. Implementation science holds promise to bridge the gap between research findings and real-world application by offering methods for timely knowledge translation. It is widely acknowledged that implementation science should be integrated early - ideally during the development of innovations such as medications, technologies, or services across all domains of healthcare, including public health. As one conference panelist emphasized, the question is not whether implementation science is important, but rather, “How can we survive without implementation science?”.

Implementation science is vital for public health, where change occurs at the level of populations, systems, and policies rather than individual patients. Its methods can speed the adoption of preventive interventions, screening programs, vaccination strategies, and health promotion policies. Recent articles in the International Journal of Public Health highlight this scope, from organized colorectal cancer screening in Switzerland [10] and the CHESS mixed-methods HPV screening intervention for women living with HIV in Nigeria [11] to translational work on healthy aging [12]. Together, these examples show that effective public health implementation requires broader methodologies that explicitly address real-world translation. Strengthening implementation science infrastructure will therefore advance not only clinical care but also prevention, population health, and global health efforts.

Despite its recognized importance, implementation science faces several barriers to integration within existing research infrastructures, healthcare systems, and society [13]. Panelists identified a number of them with the main ones being that (Figure 1): (i) many scientists lack experience in translating innovations into real-world practice and managing the financial responsibilities aligned with societal priorities; (ii) implementation science principles are not yet fully embedded in standard healthcare education, nor research methods training, leaving professionals without the skills needed to drive system transformation; (iii) funding for large-scale implementation science initiatives remains fragmented and often insufficient, especially compared to fundamental biomedical research; (iv) evaluation committees may also lack the expertise required to fairly assess implementation science projects, leading to potential bias against implementation science approaches; and (v) academic incentives based on the number of grants and publications over real-world impact of the results of a research project can further hinder the advancement of implementation science.

Roundtable panelists from diverse health sciences backgrounds, as well as from a foundation, proposed several strategies to advance implementation science and address the identified barriers. These strategies include (i) implementation science education and training; (ii) funding and rational resource allocation; (iii) inter- and transdisciplinary collaboration; and (iv) strategic development (Figure 1).

Based on the roundtable discussion with experts, several priorities emerged for the future of implementation science (Figure 1).

Results from an interactive poll (i.e., Mentimeter) conducted at the 2024 IMPACT Conference in Geneva highlighted growing interest in the network and its mission (Figure 1). Of the 77 respondents (representing 61% of the 126 participants), more than half expressed interest in becoming members, indicating a strong foundation for future growth.

Participants showed the greatest enthusiasm for interactive and educational activities, such as conferences, webinars, and courses on implementation science, reflecting a clear demand for knowledge-sharing and skill-building opportunities. There was moderate interest in more hands-on involvement, including participation in methodology development projects and exploration of funding opportunities. The Swiss Implementation Science repository and YouTube channel received lower ratings; however, this may be explained by the relatively recent launch of these tools.

Our findings echo feedback from the first IMPACT conference in 2021 [3], which emphasized the need for mentorship, practical training, and accessible resources. As in 2021, participants in 2024 stressed the importance of networking, collaboration, and internationalization. Specific suggestions included establishing mentorship programs, offering practical courses with step-by-step manuals, developing implementation science toolboxes, organizing topic-specific networking events, and increasing support for international networking [13].

Finally, attendees emphasized the importance of practical application, stakeholder engagement, and innovative approaches—such as hackathons and co-developed vision statements—as essential for advancing IMPACT’s goals.