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Our definition of impact

We think it is important that researchers- while designing their projects- think about the end-users of their project’s outcomes. As we all know, there can be many (unknown) factors and intermediate steps in a research project that is outside the control of the researcher. But assuming that everything goes according to plan, we ask our applicants to consider what will happen as the next steps after the completion of their project (see below). In simple terms, we define impact as these next steps taken by stakeholders based on, the project outcomes, i.e. who benefits and how?

Why we care about impact

We care about funding research that delivers results that help us fulfil our strategic goals:

• promoting a better understanding of the brain
• improving prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of brain disorders.

It is in this regard important for us to communicate that we value all contributions in the basic-to-clinical research value chain.

 

The Value Chain and the Logic Model

Research activities can be placed along a continuum from the very basic to clinical/commercial, in a value chain.
 

 

In the case of neuroscience, this ranges from basic insight into how the brain works to insight into disease aetiologies to applications (commercial or not) in a clinical setting.
 

Progress along the value chain is likely to occur in a stepwise/incremental manner and involve several different actors. By using a Logic Model, cause-and-effect relationships (i.e. the theory of change) can be identified that are necessary for progressing along the value chain.
 

Roadmap to impact

In our application form, we ask applicants to focus on the last two steps of the Logic Model, i.e. the potential impact (as defined above) enabled by the anticipated outcomes. Assuming that the outcomes are successfully realised, we ask applicants to reflect on who and what is required to create impact; this is what we call the roadmap to impact.
 

Here we ask you to consider and write down:

- Who will, and how will they, benefit from the outcomes of your research project?

- How do you intend to communicate the outcomes to the relevant stakeholders described above?

If your application is granted, we will ask you to follow up on the progress related to your anticipated outcomes and the roadmap to impact your status and final reports.