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Main objectives To expand the current understanding of the complex system of interconnections and knowledge flows between science and its domains of application; To design and develop databases, sophisticated measurement models, metrics and quantitative indicators...

STAR METRICS is a federal and university partnership which is developing an empirical framework to measure the outcomes of science investments and demonstrate the benefits of scientific investments to the public. The project is led by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Science Foundation (NSF) under the auspices of Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP).

STAR METRICS programme - "The first aim of the programme is to build a 'clean' database of all federally funded researchers in the United States ... Later on, the plan is to track patents, citations and other metrics of the research's impact. ... researchers' use of the Internet to communicate and publish will enable STAR METRICS to track the creation and transfer of knowledge properly for the first time"

Bibliometric methods can be used to assess many types of impact. See the example from Science-Metrics and the Univeristy of Leiden Book of Abstracts.

Case studies proven to be the best method in demonstrating impact outside of academia; impact will now be an integral part of the REF Program.

'Maximizing The Impacts Of Your Research: A Handbook For Social Scientists' now available to download as a PDF