UKRI

UKRI

UKRI have removed the requirement to provide a “Pathways to Impact” plan or complete an “Impact Summary” in grant submissions. For further information go to:

AHRC: Impact page

BBSRC: Investments, impacts and engagement

ESRC: Demonstrating support for impact in your research proposal

EPSRC: Research outcomes and impact

MRC: Guidance for Applicants - Impact

NERC: Pathways to impact

STFC research outcomes and impact

Impact summaries

When writing an impact summary you need to address two key questions;

Who might benefit from your research?

How might they benefit?

Top tips

• Ensure that the impacts are specific to your research.
• If there is more than one beneficiary put them in order of priority.
• Write simply and clearly, where possible avoid jargon - this will make it easier for reviewers from related fields to grasp the benefits of your work.
• Do not include confidential information as impact summaries can be used for publicity.
• Do not include academic impact.

Pathways to impact

When writing your pathway to impact the most important question to answer is:

What will you do to ensure that potential beneficiaries have the opportunity to engage with your research?

Top tips

• Be as specific as you can in who the possible beneficiaries of your research are.
• Write about the routes to impact you intend to use, where appropriate show that you consider them to be a two way process of knowledge exchange. (For more information about possible routes please look at our routes to impact pages).
• Make sure your planned routes to impact are appropriate for your beneficiaries/audience.
• Consider a timescale for impact – when you might do activities and who will be responsible for organising them.
• Include the costings for routes to impact. If possible mention how you intend to evaluate and gather evidence of impact.
• Try to write concisely ensuring only relevant information is included – don’t be tempted to try and fill all the available space if you don’t need to.

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