ESRC UK

“We define research impact as 'the demonstrable contribution that excellent research makes to society and the economy'. This can involve academic impact, economic and societal impact or both:

• -          Academic impact is the demonstrable contribution that excellent social and economic research makes in shifting understanding and advancing scientific, method, theory and application across and within disciplines
• -          Economic and societal impact is the demonstrable contribution that excellent social and economic research makes to society and the economy, and its benefits to individuals, organisations and/or nations.  

The impact of research, be it academic, economic and social can include:

• -          Instrumental: influencing the development of policy, practice or service provision, shaping          legislation, altering behaviour
• -          Conceptual: contributing to the understanding of policy issues, reframing debates
• -          Capacity building: through technical and personal skill development.” https://esrc.ukri.org/research/impact-toolkit/what-is-impact/