For this report, interviews from key representatives of research councils and
funds across Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland, Norway, and the Faroe Islands,
aiming to explore the complexities and nuances of research impact assessment
in the Nordic region were collated and analysed. The overarching motivations
for of these councils to measure impact include enhancing research quality,
ensuring accountability and transparency, informing policy and strategy, and, in
some cases, fostering long-term societal benefits.
Research impact is broadly understood as the effects or contributions of research on
academia, policy, society, culture, and the economy. However, this definition varies
across councils, reflecting diverse priorities and methodologies.
The national research infrastructure in the Nordics employs a range of approaches
for impact assessment, from qualitative narratives and expert evaluations to
sophisticated data-driven approaches. This diversity, stemming from different
organisational sizes, scopes, and resource availabilities, highlights both the challenges
and innovations in the field. However, despite methodological differences
common challenges emerge, such as the complexity of defining and quantifying
impact, aligning long-term research goals with short-term measurements, and the
constraints of limited resources. These shared difficulties underscore the need for
collaborative efforts and shared learning. Further, there is a trend towards more
structured, data-driven methodologies, with an increasing interest in leveraging
digital tools, automation, and AI for data gathering and impact evaluation,
but also and in contrast, a simultaneous trend toward complimentary qualitative
assessments in the form of narrative- and case study-based approaches.
