Library Help: Office For Open Research

What are UN SDGs and why are they important for researchers? 

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have become increasingly significant for researchers and Higher Education institutions across the world. These 17 interconnected goals, adopted by all UN Member States in 2015, provide a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future. Here's why they matter in the academic context: 

1. Global Impact: By aligning research with SDGs, researchers can ensure their work contributes to solving real-world problems and creating positive global impact. 

2. University of Manchester strategy: Commitment to achieving the UN SDGs is a key strategic priority for the University. We are the only university in the world to rank in the top ten in every year of the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings. Please visit the Office for Social Responsibility for further details on how our research connects with UN SDG goals.  

3. Interdisciplinary Collaboration: The SDGs encourage cross-disciplinary research, fostering innovation and comprehensive solutions to complex challenges. 

4. Funding Opportunities: Many funding bodies now prioritise research that addresses SDGs. This can open up new avenues for financial support. 

5. Industry Partnerships: Companies increasingly seek academic partners for SDG-related initiatives, creating opportunities for impactful collaborations. 

6. Policy Influence: Research aligned with SDGs can inform and influence policy decisions at local, national, and international levels. 
    

Evidencing SDG contributions in research  

Our Research Indicators team provide specialised analyses to help researchers and departments demonstrate how their work contributes to the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Here are some examples of how we can support you: 

• SDG mapping: We can analyse your research outputs to identify connections with specific SDGs, even when these links aren't explicitly stated in article titles or abstracts. 

• Impact visualisations: Using SciVal we can create visual representations of your research's SDG impact, perfect for reports, presentations, and funding applications. 

• Collaboration networks: We can identify potential collaborators working on similar SDG-related topics, both within and outside the University of Manchester. 

• Trend analysis: Our team can provide insights into emerging SDG-related research areas, helping to focus priorities for future research projects or publications. 

• Customised reports: We offer tailored reports that showcase your department's or individual's contributions to specific SDGs, these can be useful for university reporting purposes, and potentially useful as additions to REF impact case studies. 

• Benchmarking: Compare your SDG-related research output and impact with peer institutions or departments. 

For a recent example of how the SDG focused data we generate can be useful, please view the latest University of Manchester Sustainable Development Goals report. The Office for Open Research contributed bibliometric analysis to this report produced by the Office for Social Responsibility 

How to get in touch 

Please Contact our Research Indicators team if you would like to explore how we can help you to evidence your SDG contributions.