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Towards a new generation of research impact assessment approaches

Author

Listed:
  • Pierre-Benoit Joly

    (Université Paris Est)

  • Mireille Matt

    (Université Grenoble-Alpes)

Abstract

In the literature, most of the authors agree that addressing “grand challenges” implies systems transformation and requires social, economic and technological changes. It involves new policy rationales and design and consequently new approaches of research impact assessment (RIA). The challenge is to develop methods able to improve our understanding of the impact generating mechanisms, to assess a broader set of impacts, and to incorporate a mix of complementary approaches (combining qualitative and quantitative evaluation, achieving a multi-objective evaluation, and evaluating impacts at various level of aggregation). The six papers in this Special Issue present, discuss and even assess a new generation of RIA approaches. None of the papers covers all the RIA challenges highlighted above. At this stage, it would be illusive to develop a common evaluation approach, with standardized methods and metrics. We contend that the availability of a diversity of tools is a precious asset if impact assessment allows a conscientious attention to the transformative effects of research.

Suggested Citation

  • Pierre-Benoit Joly & Mireille Matt, 2022. "Towards a new generation of research impact assessment approaches," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 47(3), pages 621-631, June.
  • Handle: RePEc:kap:jtecht:v:47:y:2022:i:3:d:10.1007_s10961-017-9601-0
    DOI: 10.1007/s10961-017-9601-0
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Joly, P.B. & Gaunand, A. & Colinet, L. & Larédo, P. & Lemarié, S. & Matt, M., 2015. "ASIRPA: a comprehensive theory-based approach to assessing the societal impacts of a research organization," Working Papers 2015-04, Grenoble Applied Economics Laboratory (GAEL).
    2. Julian M. Alston & Philip G. Pardey & Jennifer S. James & Matthew A. Anderson, 2009. "The Economics of Agricultural R&D," Annual Review of Resource Economics, Annual Reviews, vol. 1(1), pages 537-566, September.
    3. Douthwaite, Boru & Kuby, Thomas & van de Fliert, Elske & Schulz, Steffen, 2003. "Impact pathway evaluation: an approach for achieving and attributing impact in complex systems," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 78(2), pages 243-265, November.
    4. Lutz Bornmann, 2013. "What is societal impact of research and how can it be assessed? a literature survey," Journal of the American Society for Information Science and Technology, Association for Information Science & Technology, vol. 64(2), pages 217-233, February.
    5. Zvi Griliches, 1958. "Research Costs and Social Returns: Hybrid Corn and Related Innovations," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 66(5), pages 419-419.
    6. Foray, D. & Mowery, D.C. & Nelson, R.R., 2012. "Public R&D and social challenges: What lessons from mission R&D programs?," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 41(10), pages 1697-1702.
    7. Claire Donovan, 2011. "State of the art in assessing research impact: introduction to a special issue," Research Evaluation, Oxford University Press, vol. 20(3), pages 175-179, September.
    8. Jakob Edler & Martin Berger & Michael Dinges & Abdullah Gök, 2012. "The practice of evaluation in innovation policy in Europe," Research Evaluation, Oxford University Press, vol. 21(3), pages 167-182, July.
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    Cited by:

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    2. Nugent, Annita & Chan, Ho Fai, 2023. "Outsourcing university research commercialization to a sophisticated technology transfer office: Evidence from Australian universities," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 125(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Grand challenges; Research impact assessment; Evaluation methods; Broader impacts; Metrology;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • O30 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - General
    • O31 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Innovation and Invention: Processes and Incentives
    • O38 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Government Policy
    • A13 - General Economics and Teaching - - General Economics - - - Relation of Economics to Social Values
    • C18 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric and Statistical Methods and Methodology: General - - - Methodolical Issues: General
    • H43 - Public Economics - - Publicly Provided Goods - - - Project Evaluation; Social Discount Rate

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