Abstract
Rycroft-Malone and colleagues' editorial on research co-production highlights the potential of a co-production mode of research to narrow the gap between knowledge production and use. This commentary critiques implicit assumptions within the argument and challenges the view that traditional (Mode 1) science bears the primary responsibility for delayed implementation and questions the inherent superiority of co-production. It also highlights the importance of political and policy considerations in considering research uptake. "Mode 3" knowledge production (integrating Modes 1 and 2 discovery) offers a potentially more advanced framework that recognizes systems and organizational perspectives. A deeper, multi-layered exploration of the influence of socio-political and policy contexts is needed to understand the full potential of co-production on knowledge utilization.