Approach to Impact

    SBRC is dedicated to fostering research that generates transformative and enduring positive change within the scientific community and beyond.

    Research Impact at SBRC

    Research impact is central to SBRC’s work. To achieve its impact mission, SBRC has developed a research impact strategy that identifies priority research areas and strategic priorities and includes impact metrics across each.

    SBRC reviews and analyzes the potential research impact of each project prior to approval and monitors the impact over the life of the project, beginning at the funding approval stage. Managing for impact means that SBRC compares research objectives to actual results, suggests adjustments where needed, and identifies learnings that help strengthen the impact of existing and new projects. At a portfolio level, SBRC aggregates research impact performance data for each priority research area and strategic initiative, compares actual performance to SBRC’s impact metrics, and explores changes in performance over time among key portfolio segments. In this way, SBRC can identify areas of under and overperformance in terms of research impact results and surface lessons that can inform decisions at the overall portfolio and strategy level.

    SBRC is committed to supporting projects that deliver a significant and sustained positive impact within the scientific community and beyond. Learn more about our research impact.

    Impact Management Tools

    SBRC uses many tools and methods to assess research impact:

    • Impact Pathways: The Impact Pathways outline SBRC’s evidence-backed approach to impact management for key research areas and strategic initiatives. This approach aligns with relevant national and international research assessment frameworks (e.g., REF, etc.), where applicable.
    • Research Impact Framework (RIF): SBRC’s Impact Management framework, RIF, provides a standardized yet flexible methodology to estimate the research impact of each project. This may include considerations like publications, citations, patents, influence on policy or practice, public engagement, and contributions to knowledge.
    • RIF Results Table: A set of 3-5 key indicators derived from the RIF assessment that represent the key expected impacts of each project, alongside baseline and target values. Results tables are used to measure the project’s progress towards its key research outcomes over time. SBRC uses these indicators to collect key data from six months after the project becomes active and engage with researchers early in the project lifecycle.
    • Research Impact Screening Table: All prospective SBRC projects are pre-screened using a standardized template for their potential research impact in alignment with SBRC’s research impact strategy.
    • Research Outcomes Survey (ROS): SBRC sends this comprehensive annual survey to all active projects to gather research outcome data and measure research performance at each project level as well as the aggregated portfolio level.
    • Progress Reports and Project Reviews: In addition to gathering data through researcher surveys and the RIF results tables, SBRC conducts regular project reviews and requires progress reports from funded projects. These reviews enhance SBRC’s ability to track the research impact of its projects and follow up where needed.

    Evaluation and Collaborative Learning

    To obtain a deeper understanding of research outcomes, SBRC conducts portfolio performance evaluations, which are deep dives into select portfolios of projects with a sectoral, thematic, or program-level focus. The learnings gleaned from performance evaluations help inform changes to SBRC policies, procedures, project structuring, and/or strategy. They also contribute to the learnings of the wider research community.

     

    Key Changes and Considerations:

    • Terminology: Changed “development impact” to “research impact,” “development objectives” to “research objectives,” and “clients” to “researchers” or “funded projects.”
    • Focus: Shifted the focus from development in the developing world to research impact within the scientific community and potentially broader societal impact.
    • Tools: Adapted the tools to be more relevant to research, such as “Impact Pathways,” “Research Impact Framework (RIF),” “Research Outcomes Survey (ROS),” and “Progress Reports and Project Reviews.”
    • Alignment: Mentioned alignment with relevant research assessment frameworks like REF.
    • Metrics: Suggested relevant research impact metrics such as publications, citations, patents, policy influence, public engagement, and contributions to knowledge.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    SBRC is committed to transparency and accountability. We believe that it is important for the public to have access to information about our work.

    28(SBRC) is a non-profit organization+ years of service in the vets industry

    The State Business Resource Center (SBRC) is a non-profit organization that provides resources and support to small businesses in the state.

    Our mission

    Our mission is to help small businesses thrive and create jobs in the state. We believe that small businesses are the backbone of the economy, and we are committed to helping them succeed.

    Transparency is important to SBRC because it allows the public to see how we are using our resources and how we are making decisions. This helps to build trust and accountability.

    Some of SBRC’s key transparency and accountability mechanisms include:

    • Open access to research data
    • Publicly available research reports
    • Independent audits
    • Public meetings
    • Whistleblower protection policy

    SBRC makes a variety of reporting documents available to the public, including:

    • Annual Report
    • Financial Statements
    • Research Reports
    • Strategic Plan

    You can find more information about SBRC’s transparency and accountability policies on our website.

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    You can contact us with any questions about SBRC’s transparency or accountability.

    Additional Information

    • SBRC Transparency Policy
    • SBRC Accountability Policy
    • SBRC Open Data Policy
    • SBRC Public Meeting Schedule

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    New Mexico State University
    Las Cruces, NM 88003-8001

    info@sbrc.gov 

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