Inspiration and insights for societal engagement
11 June 2025
EB researchers, including representatives from 11 active Impact Centres and 5 emerging Impact initiatives, came together to exchange insights, explore new collaborations, and reflect on the future of impact at EB.
Throughout the event, Impact Center leads presented their progress and openly shared the challenges and breakthroughs they’ve encountered. A key takeaway was the power of learning from one another: many centers reported gaining valuable ideas from peers—especially around how educational formats and partner communities can act as engines for societal relationships and long-term engagement.
Centers also highlighted the importance of designing research with societal outcomes in mind from the start. This includes involving external stakeholders early on, and developing research questions that align with real-world transitions.
A recurring theme was the question of how to fund and sustain impact-oriented activities. Various approaches were showcased—from paid in-house academies such as the Amsterdam People Analytics Centre and event revenues (like the Amsterdam Research Centre for Health Economics and the Amsterdam Centre for Digital Competition, to commissioned reports and Monitors (such as those by the Amsterdam Centre for Business Innovation), which not only generate income but also produce valuable research data.
These examples demonstrated that impact work doesn’t have to be an add-on; with the right model, it can become an integral and self-sustaining part of academic life.
One striking example of creative evolution came from the Amsterdam Centre for Responsible Consumption (ACRC), which announced its rebranding to MIST – Marketing Insights for Societal Transitions. This new identity reflects a shift toward systems thinking and impact-by-design research, inspired by the center’s growing network of external partners and its ambition to shape a new research culture within marketing and beyond.
Another promising development was the interest in thematic collaboration between centers. Several groups expressed the desire to connect more closely around shared resources—particularly in areas like Monitor development, interview-based research, and community building. This clustering could help streamline efforts and scale impact in a coordinated way.
As centers grow in number and ambition, the need for a shared language around impact is becoming more urgent. What exactly do we mean by “impact”? How do we define success—and who decides? These questions will be revisited in a dedicated faculty-wide impact workshop in Fall 2025, led by Ko de Ruiter, to align perspectives and continue the momentum.
Are you curious about how your research could create more societal value? Do you have ideas or questions about collaborating with an Impact Center? Reach out to the EB Impact Office (Mark Siebert or Bart van Zelst), or contact one of the Centers directly. The goal is to keep building a future where impact is not just possible—but inevitable.