Literature, the arts, and the societal impact of research

The societal impact of research increasingly extends beyond commercialisation and policy uptake, engaging broader publics through cultural and creative practices. This special issue explores how literature and the arts open alternative pathways for knowledge transfer, public engagement, and societal relevance. We introduce the LASIR model, which conceptualises two complementary mechanisms: direct collaborations between researchers and creative practitioners, and the cultural representation of science and technology in literary and artistic narratives. The contributions examine cases ranging from science-theatre and art–science policy programmes to speculative fiction shaping public imaginaries of artificial intelligence. Together, these contributions advance understanding of how creative practices intersect with research impact, demonstrating how literature and the arts serve as sites where research is co-produced, societal meaning is negotiated, and the cultural legitimacy and practical relevance of science are constructed. The issue calls for expanded innovation policy and research evaluation frameworks that fully recognise creative practices as integral to knowledge valorisation and research impact, and for the development of dedicated funding instruments and evaluation approaches to support them.