Gough, DavidDavies, PhilJamtvedt, GroLanglois, EtienneLittell, JuliaLotfi, TamaraMasset, EdoardoMerlin, TracyPullin, Andrew SRitskes-Hoitinga, MerelRøttingen, John-ArneSena, EmilyStewart, RuthTovey, DavidWhite, HowardYost, JenniferLund, HansGrimshaw, Jeremy2020-07-142020-07-142020-07-10Systematic Reviews. 2020 Jul 10;9(1):155https://doi.org/10.1186/s13643-020-01415-5https://doi.org/10.20381/ruor-24958http://hdl.handle.net/10393/40730Abstract This paper is the initial Position Statement of Evidence Synthesis International, a new partnership of organizations that produce, support and use evidence synthesis around the world. The paper (i) argues for the importance of synthesis as a research exercise to clarify what is known from research evidence to inform policy, practice and personal decision making; (ii) discusses core issues for research synthesis such as the role of research evidence in decision making, the role of perspectives, participation and democracy in research and synthesis as a core component of evidence ecosystems; (iii) argues for 9 core principles for ESI on the nature and role of research synthesis; and (iv) lists the 5 main goals of ESI as a coordinating partnership for promoting and enabling the production and use of research synthesis.2020-07-14enThe Author(s)