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Leiden Impact Matrix

To help you make the impact or valorisation of your scientific research more clearly apparent, we have created a Leiden Impact Matrix.

What is impact?

Your research is considered to have impact if it has added value for society or scientific development. Irrespective of your discipline, you and your research can have impact in many different ways. These could include:

  • Publications
  • Collaboration with external partners
  • Advising the government or taking part in councils/advisory committees
  • Lectures and media appearances
  • Patents
  • Spin-offs

The Leiden Impact Matrix lists many more examples of impact. 

Leiden Impact Matrix

Whether you wish to assess the impact of your research before or after the completion of your project, the Leiden Impact Matrix is a useful tool and a source of inspiration. With this matrix, Leiden University wishes to articulate and exemplify the diversity of forms that impact can take in different academic fields and disciplines.

You can complete the matrix fields that are relevant to you and your research, and in this way clarify the results of your knowledge development, both quantitatively and qualitatively. This also allows you to demonstrate the gains of your research for society and scientific development. In other words it allows you to clarify the global impact of your research and teaching.

Leiden Impact Matrix: Academic field and professionals

Below is an overview of the impact of your research on the academic field and professionals:

Interaction with â–º Academic field Professionals
Outcomes â–¼
Results
Knowledge
production
and exchange

Outreach activities for/with peers:

  • (Co)Publications (articles, books, comments) (refereed vs. nonrefereed, open access)
  • Outcomes of specific research projects, dissertations (PhD supervising) included
  • Education to bachelor/master students
  • Active participation in scientific/academic associations

Outreach activities for/with professionals:

  • (Co)Publications / interviews inprofessional journals, manuals, books
  • Lectures for professionals
  • Projects / events with/for professionals

Effects
Use of knowledge

Use of research outcomes by peers

  • Use of information, instruments, infrastructure / research facilities, datasets, tests, labs, models, processes, software tools or designs that the unit has developed or obtained
  • Citations

Use of research outcomes by professionals

  • Use of information, instruments,models, processes, software tools or designs that the unit has developed
  • Advices to professionals
  • Support of young professionals through a center of entrepreneurship, or incubators

Returns
Exploitation 
of knowledge

Marks of recognition from peers

  • Research grants / Science awards
  • Membership of scientific committees, editorial boards
  • Appointment as guest scholar/lecturer

Positions in rankings and EU networking activities and alliances

External funding

  • NWO (Topsectoren included), EU (ERC, Collaborative programmes) and other sources
  • Budget for Impact

Returns/gains through

  • Contract research
  • Courses / training for professionals (post-academic education)
  • Participation in advisory boards(monitoring-, evaluation committees)
  • Use of research facilities by professionals
  • Practices / entrepreneurship (spin outs / spin offs)
  • Secondary positions

Leiden Impact Matrix: Commercial and government sector and general audiences

Below is an overview of the impact of your research on the commercial and government sector and general audiences.

Interaction with â–º Commercial
and
government
sector
General
audiences
Outcomes â–¼
Results
Knowledge production and exchange

Outreach activities
for/with specific

companies and public entities

  • (Co)Publications /
    interviews
    in business or governmental media, manuals, books
  • Lectures for employees,
    officials / round table discussions
  • Collaborative projects / events with companies or public entities

Dissemination of
academic insights
to general audiences

  • General (co)publications (books, articles / comments / interviews in papers, public journals, magazines)
  • Public lectures
  • Open access
  • MOOCs, etc.

Effects
Use of knowledge

Use of research outcomes
by companies / public entities

  • Use of information, instruments, models,
    processes, software tools or designs that the unit has developed
  • Contributions to clusters (BioScience Park, Museums, etc.), and standardization committees (CEN, ISO)
  • Consultancy / Policy advice
  • Contribution of expertise to aspects of societal importance (i.e. membership of committees, councils, etc.)

Use of research outcomes
by general audiences

  • Contributions to public discussions on forums, television, in social media(YouTube, blogs) and so on
  • Contributions to events / exhibitions
  • Added societal value alumni

Returns
Exploitation of knowledge

Returns/gains through:

  • Contract research (including consultancy)
  • Professional training/
    courses (postacademic education)
  • Participation in advisory boards(monitoring-, evaluation committees)
  • Use of research facilities
    of and by companies / other bodies
  • Patents / licences/disclosures/revenues

Returns/gains through:

  • Public prizes
  • (Paid) Open courses
  • Appointments / positions paid by societal entities
  •  Employment / jobs

You can use the Leiden Impact Matrix to

  • Write a knowledge valorisation section as part of a grant application (NWO, EU).
  • Provide societal justification for ongoing or completed research to subsidy providers or collaboration partners.
  • Prepare for P&D interviews in which you may be asked to demonstrate valorisation or impact results.

This matrix is also used by research units and faculties. Since 2015, institutes have been using the matrix in their self-assessments as part of external research assessments.

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