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Paper short abstract:

Societal impact is gaining importance in the assessment of university research. However, research is performed in time-limited projects. In case of successful outcomes, there is a risk of discontinuity and even reversal of livelihood. How should real-life research cope with this?

Paper long abstract:

Societal impact is gaining importance in the assessment of university research. Complete research funding calls are weaved around ideas on “impact through research”. At least partially because of this, studies with real-life relevance become more attractive for researchers and funders. This influences the selection of research topics and the design of research setups. Especially in studies on new technologies and solutions in development research, emphasis on simultaneous impact to the livelihoods of the studied participants and communities is important to explicate. However, the project-based arrangement of research makes this setup vulnerable: how to deal with successful results that would require continuation even after the research project has ended? The limited timeframe of research poses a risk.

In this paper, we present a case study on the setup of an innovative electricity provisioning, a smart microgrid, in under-served community settings. The outcomes proved out a success. However, the sustainability and continuity of the pilot study turned out to be a challenge. How to continue? By analysing this particular research case we attempt to create a model for more sustainable research structure which may be considered in the planning and formulation of societally impactful research which (perhaps surprisingly) results in successful results with desired continuation in target communities. Our initial model implies the combination of community-based governance and commercial service development, aligned with contemporary PPPP-models (public-private-people partnership) on development. We aim to present the model in such a form that it can serve as a practical tool for sustainable research design.