Underlining the significance of research, he stressed on the capability of research to change the ground reality and make an impact. 

About Research Impact

• It is the demonstrable contribution that a research makes to society and the economy [Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC)].
• It can be immediate or long-term and is often from accumulated knowledge and not a specific research finding.
• It essentially includes reach (extent or the diversity of the beneficiaries impacted), and significance (how valuable is the impact to the beneficiaries). 

Impact of Research

• Academic impact:  Demonstrable contribution of a research across and within academic disciplines. 
• Non-academic or Socio- economic impact: Contribution to society and economy, to benefit various sectors: 
  • Cultural: Research on distinctiveness of tribal values and customs help in preserving their practices. 
  • Economic: Research on Inequality and growth helped shape government’s fiscal policies. 
  • Environmental: Research on Hydro fluorocarbon (used in refrigeration) helped identify its Global Warming potential. 
  • Health: Genome India Project studying 10,000 Genomes would help in identification of diseases. 
  • Political: Research on voting behaviour shapes the electoral policies of candidates. 
  • Technological: Research on Nanotechnology and Quantum technology have revolutionised semiconductor ecosystem.