The Systematic Effects of the Research Impact Agenda: Qualitative Evidence from the Irish Research Sector

Abstract

Research centres are non-academic, publicly funded R&D organisations that are not part of academia or the private sector. They play an important role across national innovation systems yet what they do is, to a large extent, undocumented and misunderstood. This study addresses the current gap in the literature by analysing the influence and implications of the research impact agenda on the research centre sector in Ireland. Thirteen semi-structured interviews were conducted with selected leaders from publicly funded research centres and funding agencies in Ireland. Exploratory interviews were transcribed, and thematic analysis was conducted to identify underlying themes. The findings suggest that this agenda has already had significant implications across the Irish research centre sector. Current conceptualisations adopt a narrow view of research impacts, based predominantly on demonstrating economic impacts, which threatens academic autonomy, rewards instrumental research, and may contribute to a ‘sensationalist’ approach to evidencing impacts.