GET READY! // IMPACT

Spring 2018

Senior Adviser Krister Talvinen, Research Services

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1. ABOUT IMPACT

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• Research funding environment becoming increasingly competitive.

• Funders want to see that the research they are funding has impact beyond

academia. Because of dwindling budgets, funding agencies and instruments

such as Horizon 2020, Tekes and Strategic Research Council give increasing

weight to the societal benefits when making funding decisions

• European funding has engaged in & expected impact for many years, e.g.

H2020 calls specify the ‘expected impact’. (NB: Different funders have different

definitions and expectations.)

THE SOCIETY AND THE WORLD ARE FACING MAJOR CHALLENGES THAT

REQUIRE RESEARCH-BASED SOLUTIONS

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WE ARE LIVING DIFFERENT TIMES

Research Councils UK definition: ‘the demonstrable contribution that excellent research makes to society and the economy’. For example:

• 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, culture and creative outputs

Impact of research = effect on society, including economy, that is demonstrable and positive

• How does the research make the world a better place?

IT’S ALL ABOUT MAKING A DIFFERENCE!

http://www.sixtysymbols.com/index.html

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IMPACT = MAKING A DIFFERENCE

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REALMS OF IMPACT

Scientific

Health

Environmental

Economic

Cultural

REALMS OF IMPACT

Social

Political

Technological

Training

IMPACT CLASSIFICATION

• Cultural impact: contribution to understanding of ideas and reality, values and beliefs. • Economic impact: contribution to the sale price of products, a firm’s costs and revenues (micro level), and economic returns either through economic growth or productivity growth (macro level). • Environmental impact: contribution to the management of the environment, for example, natural resources, environmental pollution, climate and meteorology. • Health impact: contribution to public health, life expectancy, prevention of illnesses and quality of life. • Political impact: contribution to how policy makers act and how policies are constructed and to political stability. • Scientific impact: contribution to the subsequent progress of knowledge, the formation of disciplines, training and capacity building. • Social impact: contribution to community welfare, quality of life, behaviour, practices and activities of people and groups. • Technological impact: contribution to the creation of product, process and service innovations. • Training impacts: contribution to curricula, pedagogical tools, qualifications.

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THE TRIANGLE

Societal impact Quality of life

Health

Environment

Public services

Policy

Creative activity

Public engagement

Understanding

Education

Academic impact Theory

Method

Knowledge

Technology development

Researcher training

Teaching and training

Application

Economic impact Innovations

Competitiveness

Growth

Jobs

Budget savings

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INPUTS, OUTPUTS, OUTCOMES, IMPACT

Concept Definition Areas of application Concrete example

Input The resources a research funder or institution spends in the research process

people, infrastructure, knowhow, background IP, money, etc.

Activities Actions taken or work performed as a result of research inputs

teams established, research undertaken, networking, etc.

Output The accomplishment or product of the activity

publications, conferences, new research leadership skills and experience for (less-connected) researchers, new (interdisciplinary) research collaborations for researchers, etc.

Identification of an antigen that triggers immunity for a certain disease

Outcome Knowledge transferred and/or the changes that occur as a result of a programme/project

Tends to be more immediate than most forms of impact

A distinction can be made between scientific outcomes, societal outcomes (e.g. contribution to policy debates or documents, strategy development), and economic outcomes (e.g. start-ups, spinoffs, increased productivity in a certain field).

Career advancement for (less-connected) researchers;

new research infrastructure and programmes on societal challenges;

coordination of standards, procedures and methods;

approved common research projects on interdisciplinary research;

Development or commercialisation of a vaccine against a disease

Impact “Effect on, change or benefit to the economy, society, culture, public policy or services, health, the environment or quality of life, beyond academia” (HEFCE’s definition)

Environmental sustainability, protection and impact

Wealth creation, economic prosperity and regeneration

Enhancing cultural enrichment and quality of life

Worldwide academic advancement

Commercialisation and exploitation

Eradication of the disease

OBJECTIVES

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OTHER OUTPUTS

• Impact Case Studies

• Research Sample Repositories e.g. DNA etc.

• Written commentary and advices to agencies and NGOs

• Health education materials

• Booklets, DVDs, Video

• Public outreach (through seminars)

• Public lectures / speech

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• Radio talk

• Guidelines

• Materials for museums

• Tours

• Advice

• Field schools

• Podcasts

• Television

• Popular magazines

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THINKING INSIDE THE BOX

1. EU / OECD

2. FINLAND

3. UH

4. Faculty

YOU

• 1. EU / OECD: Policies for advancing science, economy, society

• 2. FINLAND: Government, Ministries, funding agencies

• 3. UH: Strategy, strategic research areas, hubs, organizational structure, infrastructure

• 4. Faculty / Department: Strategic plans, Centres of Excellences, Professors, research groups

WHO BENEFITS?

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TYPES OF BENEFITS

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OBJECTIVES

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I. Set the Stage – Lay Out the Problem (“Who Cares?”)

A. Get the reviewer interested at the outset

B. Identify the importance—stress the need

C. Summarize the state of the art

D. Describe technical challenges to solving the problem

and potential benefits

II. State the theme – Your Solution

E. Describe the concept and establish credibility

F. Describe your project’s fundamental purpose

III. Create a Vision (“So What?”)

G. Show how your work will advance the field

H. Envision the world with the problem solved

The “pitch” should be the opening 2 - 3 paragraphs of the proposal’s

very first section (after the abstract), regardless of what that section is

called (INTRODUCTION, BACKGROUND, PROBLEM STATEMENT,

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE RESEARCH, SPECIFIC AIMS, etc.)

PITCH IN FUNDING PROPOSALS

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Assume an uninformed but intelligent reader / listener:

• Use clear, accessible language

• Stick with direct statements and

active voice (“It has been demonstrated that…”

vs. “Our research shows clearly that…”)

• Avoid insider jargon and acronyms

“An expanding awareness of the limitations of our training settings, the political

fallout of our training mission, the consequence of having therapists work in a

particular work setting, and the need to change established institutional structures

(e. g., child protective services, Aid to Families with Dependent Children, juvenile

court) are examples of the contextualization of training and supervision.”

CLARITY IS EVERYTHING!

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2. ACADEMY OF FINLAND

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ACADEMY OF FINLAND

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The Academy of Finland // Review and funding decisions

The Academy of Finland allocates funding on a competitive basis to the best

researchers and research teams and to the most promising young researchers.

Scientifically ambitious projects are a particular goal. We provide funding for all

scientific disciplines.

Our principles for the allocation of funding are as follows:

• high quality

• international outlook and cooperation

• impact

• responsibility

• contribution to science renewal.

See also: http://www.aka.fi/globalassets/30tiedepoliittinen-

toiminta/tieteentila/aka_tieteen_tila_2016_eng_150317.pdf

AKA: MOBILITY

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“Researchers need a wide range of experience from working in different research

environments to be able to increase their independence. By working in different kinds of

research groups or in other research-related positions, researchers can further strengthen

their personal networks and improve their chances of securing research positions or other

expert tasks. For today’s researchers, it is also important to be able to acquire new

methodological skills and adopt new means of communicating with people with

different backgrounds. Wide-ranging expertise can help to increase the impact of

research and promote science renewal, which are among the Academy of Finland’s most

important strategic objectives in addition to improving scientific quality.” (September Call 2017,

p. 61)

2.3. Researcher mobility Sub-rating (1–6):

Guiding question: How does the mobility plan support the research plan? Does the receiving

organisation stand out in the respective field of research? Is the length of the mobility period

appropriate and is its timing right for the project? [FOR ARF: What has been the quality of the

applicant’s previous mobility across international and/or sectorial borders?]

AKA: RESEARCH PLAN

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NB. Abstract should be your ‘sales pitch’

1. Principal investigator (PI), project title, site of research, date of research plan

2. Rationale in brief

3. Scientific objectives and expected impact

3 A Scientific objectives

3 B Effects and impact beyond academia

*Reach and potential utilisation value of the research beyond the scientific community

*Self-assessment of the expected societal impact of the research in the long or short term

3 C Publication plan

*Plan for publishing of research results, dissemination and communication to the scientific

community, potential end-users and the general public, including open access issues

4. Research methods and material, support from research environment

*Research methods, described so as to explain how they will contribute to answering the

research questions/confirming the hypotheses, or how they will support the chosen

approach

*Research material to be used and its significance for the research project; justification for

the research material and description of how the data will be collected and used. Enclose a

separate data management plan outlining data management, storage, access and rights.

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4. Research methods and material, support from research environment (cont’d)

*What kind of tangible support will the project receive from local, national and international

research environments?

*Use of research infrastructures, description of how the project benefits from such use (the

infrastructures are also entered in the online application under Infrastructures)

*Critical points for success, alternative implementation strategies

5. Ethical issues

6. Implementation: schedule, budget, distribution of work

7. Research team and collaborative partners

*Merits of research team members that are relevant to the project

*Key national and international collaboration, and its significance for project implementation

8. Research careers and researcher training

*Advancing the research career of the applicant (or other researchers to be funded)

*Researcher training, including arrangements for teaching and supervision, and degrees to be

completed within the project

*Promotion of equality

9. Mobility plan for the funding period

10. Bibliography

AKA: RESEARCH PLAN

AKA: POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCHER

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The aim of the funding for research posts as Postdoctoral Researcher is to support the most

promising researchers who have recently completed their doctoral degree in gaining

competence for demanding researcher or expert positions.

Postdoctoral Researchers have established effective national or international collaborative

networks. In the review of applications, particular attention will be paid to the international

dimension of the research plan. Postdoctoral Researchers are encouraged to engage in

international mobility and collaboration.

We recommend that Postdoctoral Researchers provide (without separate compensation)

supervision of thesis and dissertation writers in their own field and teaching associated with

their field of expertise, covering 5% of annual working hours. However, no more than 10% of

the annual working hours should be spent on teaching and other work not immediately

associated with the researcher’s own research.

AKA: ACADEMY RESEARCH FELLOW

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When applying for funding for a research post as Academy Research Fellow you apply for

funding for your own salary for up to five years. Academy Research Fellows work on research

plans of a high scientific quality. Academy Research Fellows have built extensive research

networks and the funding allows them to develop their skills of academic leadership and to

establish themselves as independent researchers.

A post as Academy Research Fellow will provide you with a good and diverse opportunity to

work independently on your research and to contribute to developing the research in your

field. As an Academy Research Fellow you are encouraged to engage in international

research collaboration and mobility across international and sectoral borders, for example, so

that you will work part of the term abroad. Foreign researchers who already work or who will

work in the Finnish scientific community may also apply for the funding.

The duties of Academy Research Fellows include (without separate compensation)

supervision of thesis and dissertation writers in their own field and teaching associated with

their research, covering 5% of annual working hours.

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When applying for Academy Project funding, you apply for funding to set up a

research team.

The Academy Project funding scheme is designed to promote the quality and

diversity of research, scientific impact and impact beyond academia as well as

science self-renewal. The aim is to attain internationally as high a scientific standard

of work as possible and to support scientific breakthroughs and top-tier international

research collaboration.

The funding is granted primarily to teams of researchers with doctoral degrees. In

Academy Projects, we encourage researchers to engage in international mobility

that will support the research, for example, so that researchers hired to the project

work abroad for a fixed period. The project may also hire foreign researchers who

already work or who will work in the Finnish scientific community.

AKA: ACADEMY PROJECT

TAKE HOME MESSAGES

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• Impact = making a difference on the world // having an effect via research

• Public funding agencies value highly multidisciplinarity and stakeholder engagement – the argument being

that in a such way the impact of research will be maximized and then the whole society (including public

sector, the general public and companies) can benefit out of research

• Consider the impact as a whole; all funders want maximum impact, but they emphasize different parts of it

• Impact // Academy of Finland

(i) science: scientific & methodological breakthroughs, interdisciplinarity, own line of research,

academic leadership

(ii) international (& national) collaboration, networks, mobility

(iii) teaching, supervising thesis works (iv) career progression and commitment

• In research proposals, impact(s) should be integrated coherently all over the proposal, rather than being a

separate, superficial description in a couple of sentences. Be concrete; state facts, figures and milestones;

define what, when and with whom

• Think what objectives you have for your research and career -> plan what you need to produce

(deliverables) -> plan your collaboration with relevant academic and non-academic stakeholders ->

establish the networks, co-create and disseminate

• CV showcases your impact – recall to include posters, contributions to material banks, patents (also

pending ones), collaboration with industry and other stakeholders, invention disclosures, TED talks,

appearances on media, education materials etc.

• CHECK THE REVIEW TEMPLATES!

http://blogs.helsinki.fi/andaction/

Impact and Business Collaboration,

Research Services,

University of Helsinki

IMPACT TEAM

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THANK YOU!

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