Optimally, research knowledge influences people’s actions and behaviour

Based on the CoEs’ self-assessments, some of the key impact objectives have been to promote the fields of research represented by the CoEs and the research methods used by them and to introduce the resulting research results to the general public. One concrete example was presenting new research-based perspectives in connection with healthcare treatment recommendations.

In practice, the CoEs’ impact was aimed at disseminating information in a widespread way to all citizens and consumers, decision-makers responsible for education, pupils in comprehensive education and all students up to university level, young researchers and business representatives.

One more specific objective was to have an impact on general civic debate. This referred to things like correcting misunderstandings in public debate – also on social media – related to the CoEs’ research topics. At best, this type of impact was estimated to bring about changes in people’s actions and behaviour.