Societal impact is currently most wanted in contemporary science, technology and innovation (STI) policymaking. Far beyond economic added value, societal impact in STI policymaking aims to tackle cross-boundary and grand-societal challenges, to integrate societal actors from various realms into all processes (including agenda-setting, planning, research, applications and evaluations). Not least, societal impact is supposed to serve as a guideline for valuing STI activities. The project Navigating Societal Impact (funded by Stiftung Mercator) explores variations of societal impact, scrutinizes concrete cases and builds a reflexive learning tool that will enable societal actors to reflect upon and co-create their own societal impact initiatives.

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