Situating early career researchers within a dynamic research and innovation ecosystem

For many early career researchers (ECR) in the UK, impact is ‘part of the job’ and for doctoral researchers an important part of their professional development. However, there is much to learn and much to do. For ECRs, learning to adapt and seize emergent opportunities is key to thriving in this tumultuous environment. As universities become more entrepreneurial in nature, in response to the shifting policy priorities and resultant marketization of higher education, researchers too need to react and adapt to decide where they fit into the picture. By delving into theories of research ecosystems and collaborative working, as well as through an assessment of the current working practices and conditions for ECRs, this chapter argues that to fully understand the impact of academic work, we first need to understand the role research and impact activities play within a complex innovation ecosystem that involves multiple actors, agents, and stakeholders.