Government Outcomes Lab, University of Oxford

What Government Outcomes Lab, University of Oxford does

The Government Outcomes Lab (GO Lab) is an academic research centre within the Blavatnik School of Government at the University of Oxford, established to serve as a global knowledge hub for outcomes-based contracting and impact bonds. It serves government agencies, local authorities, policymakers, social investors, researchers, and practitioners working on social outcomes by producing free research, datasets, toolkits, and technical guidance. Its core offerings include the INDIGO (International Network for Data on Government Outcomes) data collaborative covering 1,000+ organisations and projects across 40+ countries, an Impact Bond Lifecycle Toolkit, a VfM Toolkit co-developed with CIPFA, a Mission-led Growth Dashboard for English councils, and the Formal-Relational Contracting Playbook co-developed with Public Digital. It also acts as the UK Government's official evaluation partner for the £80M Life Chances Fund covering 29 projects.

The lab operates on a non-commercial model funded entirely by research grants and institutional partnerships with the UK Department for Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS), UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), the Nuffield Foundation, and the University of Oxford. It distributes its outputs through a free public website, peer learning groups, webinars, an annual Social Outcomes Conference, and an Oxford Government Outcomes Blog. The team is small (approximately 8 employees) and the entity has no commercial pricing model, no disclosed revenue, and no subsidiaries, acquisitions, or funding rounds. Founded in 2016, the GO Lab's strategic position rests on its Oxford brand, the depth of the INDIGO dataset, and its embedded role within UK government outcomes-based commissioning.

Name

Government Outcomes Lab, University of Oxford

Legal name

Government Outcomes Lab, Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford

Website

https://golab.bsg.ox.ac.uk

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Government Outcomes Lab (GO Lab) is an Oxford University research centre that operates a global knowledge hub for outcomes-based contracting and impact bonds, serving government agencies, local authorities, and social sector practitioners with free datasets, toolkits, and policy evaluation.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Policy Research & Advisory Services

NAICS

Administration of Economic Programs (926), Other General Government Support (92119)

SIC

Services-Management Services (8741)

akta.pro primary industry

Central Government Policy, Strategy & Performance (incl. OMB-style functions) (BPAIAAAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

State/Provincial Human Services & Benefits Administration (Welfare, Disability, Child & Family) (BPAIABAI), Grantmaking Agencies & Education Program Grants Administration (EDADAHAD)

Keywords

• Outcomes-based contracting
• Social impact bonds
• Public policy research
• Impact evaluation
• Government knowledge hub

Headquarters

HQ city

Oxford

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Research Grants and Core Funding: The GO Lab operates as a research center within the Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford. It receives funding from government sources (UK Government through DCMS), research councils (UK Research and Innovation), and charitable foundations (Nuffield Foundation). The lab conducts engaged research and evaluations, such as the Life Chances Fund evaluation.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Government Outcomes Lab is an academic research center at the University of Oxford that functions as a global knowledge hub for outcomes-based contracting and impact bonds. It provides free toolkits, datasets, technical guidance, case studies, and events to support the design, delivery, and evaluation of outcomes-based approaches in the public and social sectors, including the Life Chances Fund evaluation for the UK Government.

Product overview

The Government Outcomes Lab (GO Lab) at the University of Oxford operates as a global knowledge hub focused on outcomes-based contracting and impact bonds. Rather than a single software product, GO Lab provides an integrated suite of knowledge resources, data tools, and practical guidance. The core offerings include INDIGO (a global data collaborative with datasets on 1,000+ organizations/projects), the Impact Bond Dataset (interactive global impact bond map), and comprehensive technical guidance covering the full impact bond lifecycle from design through evaluation. Supporting tools include the Impact Wayfinder (evaluation assessment prototype), VfM Toolkit (with CIPFA), Mission-led Growth Dashboard, and the Formal-Relational Contracting Playbook. The Knowledge Bank aggregates case studies, publications, and resources, while the annual Social Outcomes Conference provides peer learning opportunities through Peer Learning Groups and the Engaging with Evidence webinar series.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• INDIGO: International Network for Data on Impact and Government Outcomes - a community of peers sharing data about projects addressing complex social problems
• Social Outcomes Conference

Products and services

• INDIGO (International Network for Data on Impact and Government Outcomes) A global community and data collaborative sharing data on projects addressing complex social problems, with datasets covering 1,000+ organisations and projects across 40+ countries. Intended for researchers, policymakers, and practitioners studying social outcomes.
• Impact Bond Dataset v2 Interactive map and dataset providing data on impact bonds worldwide, including their various stages of development and different policy areas. Aimed at the public sector, researchers, and social investors.
• Impact Bond Lifecycle Toolkit Toolkit developed in consultation with practitioners to support projects being established under the UK Government's Life Chances Fund, guiding users through the lifecycle of impact bonds. Intended for commissioners and providers establishing impact bonds.
• Technical Guidance Suite Comprehensive guidance covering impact bond design and implementation, including setting and measuring outcomes, pricing outcomes, procurement, awarding contracts, and evaluating outcomes-based contracts. Aimed at public sector commissioners and practitioners.
• Impact Wayfinder (Prototype) Prototype tool that helps organizations find the right evaluation approach based on their focus and project scale. Intended for organizations planning impact evaluations.
• OBF and ECCE Resource Hub A curated collection of practical tools, guidance, and evidence for designing, implementing, and evaluating outcomes-based financing in early childhood care and education. Aimed at ECCE policymakers and practitioners.
• GO Lab-CIPFA Value for Money (VfM) Toolkit Toolkit developed in partnership with CIPFA to help public managers assess value for money of outcomes-based contracting programmes, or any public programme with an outcome-focus.
• Mission-led Growth Dashboard Dashboard benchmarking performance data for each council in England against its Nearest Neighbour, the median of all local authorities in England, and the average of the selected authority's ten Nearest Neighbours. Targeted at English local authorities.
• Formal-Relational Contracting Playbook Playbook co-developed with Public Digital to support commissioners and providers in taking a formal-relational approach to delivering complex public services.
• GO Lab Knowledge Bank Comprehensive repository containing case studies, publications, resources, and a glossary covering outcomes-based contracting and impact bonds globally. Free public access via the golab.bsg.ox.ac.uk website.
• Social Outcomes Conference (SOC) Annual convening of researchers, policymakers, and practitioners working to improve social outcomes, featuring sessions, roundtables, and networking opportunities. SOC 2026 scheduled for September 3–4, 2026.

Quantifiable outcome

• Life Chances Fund evaluation covers 29 projects funded through an £80 million government fund
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Blavatnik School of Government, University of OxfordcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe GO Lab is hosted within the Blavatnik School of Government at the University of Oxford, serving as the research center's institutional home and providing academic rigor and credibility.
• Department for Culture Media & Sport (DCMS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUK government department that established the £80M Life Chances Fund. DCMS partners with GO Lab for evaluation of outcomes-based contracting projects.
• ShikshaLokamminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducation-focused organization that partners with GO Lab, potentially for international development work on education outcomes.
• Education Outcomes FundminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership focused on education outcomes financing, aligning with GO Lab's work on development impact bonds and outcomes funds.
• Public DigitalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-developed the Formal-Relational Contracting Playbook with GO Lab to support commissioners and providers in delivering complex public services.
• Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with GO Lab to develop the Value for Money (VfM) Toolkit for assessing outcomes-based contracting programmes.
• EcorysminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch consultancy partnering with GO Lab on a global systematic review exploring whether outcomes-based contracting delivers improved impact.
• British Asian TrustminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCharitable organization focused on education in South Asia, referenced in connection with India's experience with paying for outcomes.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Education Outcomes Fund (EOF): Education Outcomes Fund is a global facility financing outcomes-based education programs in low- and middle-income countries. Comparable as it works in the same outcomes-based financing space for education globally, with GO Lab's OBF and ECCE Resource Hub specifically addressing this audience.
• Ecorys: Ecorys is an international research and consultancy company that partners with GO Lab on global systematic reviews of outcomes-based contracting. Comparable as it directly conducts evaluations and research on social impact bonds and outcomes-based programs in the same global market.
• Social Finance UK: Social Finance is a UK-based nonprofit that designs and manages Social Impact Bonds and outcomes-based contracts. Directly comparable as it operates in the same outcomes-based contracting ecosystem in the UK, often alongside GO Lab, and serves similar government commissioners.
• New Philanthropy Capital (NPC): NPC is a UK think tank and consultancy focused on the charity sector and social outcomes measurement. Comparable as both organizations produce research, evaluation, and advisory work aimed at improving outcomes in the UK social sector.
• Nesta: Nesta is a UK innovation foundation that conducts research and runs programs on social outcomes, mission-oriented innovation, and impact bonds. Comparable as both are UK mission-driven organizations generating evidence and practical tools for outcomes-based public service reform.

Emerging players

• Bridges Fund Management: Bridges Fund Management is a UK impact investment firm that has funded Social Impact Bonds including North Somerset's Turning the Tide. Comparable as an ecosystem participant financing the deals that GO Lab evaluates and supports.
• Big Society Capital: Big Society Capital is a UK social investment wholesaler that supports the development of the social impact bond market. Comparable as an adjacent ecosystem participant that GO Lab's research informs and that shares the same UK outcomes-based financing ecosystem.

Broad incumbents

• Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR): IPPR is the UK's leading progressive think tank, producing research on public services, government policy, and social outcomes. Comparable as a UK public policy research organization producing evidence that influences central and local government commissioning.
• Brookings Institution: Brookings is a major US-based public policy think tank producing research on economic, social, and government policy. Comparable as a broader incumbent in the public policy research and advisory space, providing evidence and frameworks that influence government commissioning decisions.
• RAND Corporation: RAND is a global policy research institution producing evidence-based analysis for governments. Comparable as a broad incumbent that conducts program evaluations, policy research, and impact assessments for public sector clients, often in areas overlapping GO Lab's outcomes-based work.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/GovOutcomesLab
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCiN8Xqf1tYGCmdYf
• Facebookfacebook.com/GovOutcomesLab
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/government-outcomes-lab-university-of-oxford

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Government Outcomes Lab, University of Oxford