It helps to have a solid understanding of what impact means in the context of the funding landscape.
“Impact is the demonstrable contribution that excellent research makes to society and the economy”
UK Research and Innovation
“Research impact is an effect on, change or benefit to the economy, society, culture, public policy or services, health, the environment or quality of life, beyond academia”
Research England
“Impact is the good researchers do in the world”
Reed 2018
Table 1. What counts as impact?
These practical examples may help you to become more familiar with the concept, along with some of the terminology commonly used by funding organisations, particularly in differentiating between “outcomes” and “impact”.
| Inputs Your project idea, supported by financial resources from the funder. |
Activities The work you carry out during the project. |
Outputs The results of your work, what comes out at the end of the project (e.g. publications, toolkits, websites) |
Outcomes Who used the output and how? |
Impact What happened as a result of the outcomes? What was the lasting effect? i.e. what is the improvement in the long term which is attributable to the project |
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| Example 1 | Investigating the opportunities for integrating climate adaptation goals into maternal health care interventions in a developmental context | Fieldwork abroad including participatory research, data analysis, dialog and discussion with relevant stakeholders and actors | Several journal articles, a conference presentation, a policy belief with concrete recommendations to decision makers, a toolkit for practitioners, | New knowledge is used to inform international development spending priorities in relation to both maternal and neonatal health as well as climate adaptation abroad, funds are allocated in new visionary ways Consensus is built among development actors over the need for reforms to prevent regression in progress made towards SDGs |
Maternal and neonatal mortality rates reduced by 35% over five years following implementation of new recommendations |
| Example 2 | Investigating the potential for carrots as a food item to support the treatment of type 2 diabetes | Clinical trials, data analysis | Results are published and presented at conferences, a website to disseminate information to local health care providers and the public is created | New knowledge is available to the public, they perceive new opportunities to engage in a healthy diet and reduce dependence on pharmaceutical diabetes products. Results stimulate wider societal discussion which goes viral and motivates subsequent political action regarding local agricultural production and incentives for local vegetable production/consumption in Denmark |
50% reduction in type two diabetes in key age ranges after 10 years across Denmark New incentives for local organic food production |
| Example 3 | Investigating health risks related to increasing frequency of extreme weather events and identification of preparedness measures for the Danish healthcare system using extreme value statistics | Epidemiological modelling of health outcomes in relation to extreme weather events, hospital resource allocation analysis and risk assessment | Results are published, relationships have been mapped and quantified, vulnerabilities identified, a statistical management support program has been developed to draw on and integrate climate data, weather forecasts and hospital planning processes | Epidemiological models and forecasting assessments inform resource allocation planning at 3 major hospitals in Denmark, less disruption to health care provision during extreme weather events | 60% reduction in negative health outcomes in the face of extreme weather events in 3 cities in Denmark |