How impact-focused funding influences researchers’ knowledge mobilization activities

Abstract This study explores the influence of impact-focused funding on the knowledge mobilization (KMb) activities of federally funded researchers in Canada, focusing on recipients of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada Discovery Grants. The findings challenge assumptions that funding programs emphasizing societal impact reliably lead to increased engagement in KMb activities. By examining pre- and post-funding KMb engagement across disciplines, the study reveals that while a small subset of researchers increased their KMb efforts, a larger proportion disengaged after receiving funding. These results point to significant barriers, including insufficient institutional support, disciplinary norms, and competing academic priorities, which may hinder the alignment of funding agency goals with researcher practices. The study also sheds light on discipline-specific and role-based variations, such as lower KMb engagement in applied fields and among researchers with administrative responsibilities. This research contributes to literature by identifying complications and unintended consequences associated with impact-driven funding mechanisms. The findings have implications for policymakers, funding agencies, and universities working to enhance the societal impact of publicly funded research.