After a long wait, analysis of the REF 2021 Impact Case Studies has been released!

REF Impact Case Studies are intended to demonstrate the beneficial changes occurring outside of academia as a result of research. They consist of narrative accounts of the impact which is claimed, and detail of the underpinning research. ICSs are submitted as part of the REF submission, which takes place roughly every 7 years and assesses the excellence of research in UK higher education providers by examining societal impact, research outputs, and research environment.

The study, commissioned by UKRI and Research England and carried out by RAND Europe, collected data from 6,039 ICSs submitted to REF 2021 to investigate the nature and beneficiaries of UK research, and how they relate to underpinning research and UK government priority policy areas. Some of the findings reiterate important points which we already knew, whilst others provide interesting insights into aspects which we might not have considered. 

UK HEIs have had a significant and diverse societal impact

It’s what we’re here for – we want to make a difference! REF 2021 goes to show that HEIs across the UK have been successful in achieving this, making positive changes to the society and economy, locally and globally.

Impact pathways are complex, diverse and unique

We know that there’s no one-size-fits-all route to impact, and this analysis really shows it. A huge 5,397 unique routes to impact (links between research, UoA and impact) were identified across the submissions. Two projects could be in the same research area, working towards the same goals, and still exhibit drastically different impact pathways which are just as effective as one another.

Impact was global, national and local

Impact can happen anywhere and on any scale. Research was seen to create impact from the hyperlocal – within 25km of the HEI – to global. Almost every country benefited from UK research, with the United States, Australia, Germany and Canada featuring in the most ICSs after the UK (p. 18) There were also strong flows of impact within the UK, with impact often being ‘exported’ to different UK regions to that in which the underpinning research occurred.

Research benefited many different groups

59 beneficiary groups were identified, from governments and industry to teachers and patients, showing the diverse reach of UK impact.

Impact isn’t immediate

We’ve always said that impact won’t happen right away, and the data from 2021 certainly shows this! There was an average of 10 years between the first funding received for a project (as recorded in the ICS) and the end of the impact reported. This is likely even longer in reality, with research beginning prior to funding being in place, or multiple funds being received and only more recent examples being included in the ICS submission.

ICSs were underpinned by highly cited research

Most underpinning research performed better than the global average in terms of bibliometric indicators, but this may be connected to the 2* minimum requirement in place for outputs underpinning ICSs in 2021. With the removal of the 2* requirement for underpinning research in the current cycle, it will be interesting to see how this changes.

Interdisciplinary work was widespread

More than 50% of submitted ICSs across all four panels demonstrated collaboration. Interdisciplinarity was found more often in ICSs generating societal impact than in more discipline-specific impacts such as clinical medicine, but it was seen across all UoAs.

In the coming weeks, we’ll be exploring some of these aspects in a bit more depth, looking at what we can learn from the analysis and what this might mean for the next submission.

If you think that you’re generating impact or have a potential case study, get in touch with your Faculty Impact Lead or UoA Coordinator. You can also email impact@port.ac.uk if you have any questions.