Research Councils UK defines impact in the following ways:

*Academic impact*
The demonstrable contribution that excellent research makes to academic advances, across and within disciplines, including significant advances in understanding, methods, theory and application.

When applying for Research Council funding via Je-S, pathways towards academic impact are expected to be outlined in the Academic Beneficiaries and appropriate Case for Support sections. An exception to this is where academic impact forms part of the critical pathway to economic and societal impact.

*Economic and societal impacts*
The demonstrable contribution that excellent research makes to society and the economy. Economic and societal impacts embrace all the extremely diverse ways in which research-related knowledge and skills benefit individuals, organisations and nations by:

* fostering global economic performance, and specifically the economic competitiveness of the United Kingdom,

* increasing the effectiveness of public services and policy,

* enhancing quality of life, health and creative output.

Public engagement may be included as one element of your Pathway to Impact. Engaging the public with your research can improve the quality of research and its impact, raise your profile, and develop your skills. It also enables members of the public to act as informed citizens and can inspire the next generation of researchers.


External Content (the link will open in a new tab)

Authors: RCUK, 2014
Publication year: 2014
Language: English (EN)
Level of knowledge: Intermediate: able to
Usage rights:

Attribution - CC-BY

Audience