Have you ever been asked to explain why your research matters beyond academia? More and more funders want to know not just what you are studying, but why it makes a difference — for society, the economy, the environment, or even for future knowledge creation. This is where the concept of research impact comes in.

Research funders increasingly expect applicants to explain what kind of impact their research will have. The question of impact, however, is a complex one — it is closely tied to the very nature of the research itself. For example, describing the impact of fundamental research in physics looks very different from explaining the impact of a study on the barriers to competitiveness faced by small Finnish companies.

One of the most common ways to break down the different dimensions of impact is through the framework known as PESTLE. PESTLE is used to analyze external factors that may affect an organization, project, or decision. The acronym stands for:

  • Political – government policies, stability, regulations, taxation, trade rules
  • Economic – economic growth, inflation, exchange rates, employment, interest rates
  • Social (Socio-cultural) – demographics, cultural trends, lifestyle changes, education, attitudes
  • Technological – innovation, automation, R&D, digital transformation, technological change
  • Legal – laws, regulations, labor standards, intellectual property, compliance
  • Environmental (Ecological) – sustainability, climate change, environmental regulations, resource availability

Depending on the research, impact may fall within one or several of these categories. It is also important to remember that PESTLE is just one way to structure impact. It does not, for instance, account for academic impact — and sometimes the most significant contribution of a project is the development of a new method or approach within the field.

To help researchers describe impact, various tools have been developed. One example is the Impact Helper website created by Research Funding Services at the University of Oulu, which gathers useful information on how to think about and present research impact. It also offers a one-page Impact Plan that can guide you in mapping the potential impact of your research idea and considering its different dimensions.

Please contact Research Funding Services if you would like support in writing the impact section of your application.