DETERMINANTS OF GENERATING IMPACT ON THE ENVIRONMENT AS A PUBLIC VALUE OF SCIENTIFIC PROJECTS – EXPERIENCES WITHIN THE UNIVERSITY OF LODZ.

Purpose: The paper aims to discover how the stakeholders of research processes carried out within universities perceive the possibility of generating the impact of scientific projects on the economy, society and the environment. Design/methodology/approach: For the purpose of the paper, several steps were executed. First, the desk method was implied. On the basis of the literature operating of the university in a wider context was presented, as well as economic theories on the relationship between human activity and the environment, also the concept of public value and Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) concept were discussed. The empirical part was the study in the form of focus group organized to obtain information on the perception of the potential impact generated by scientific projects. Findings: The study proved that such an impact is exerted and that appropriate activities disseminating the results of research work have a chance to achieve sustainable positive economic, social or environmental changes. It was possible to identify the factors which affect the efficiency of such processes. Research limitations/implications: The focus group was carried on a relatively small sample and the participants were already involved in socially/economically/environmentally accountable activity. Nevertheless, it was possible to acquire the main ideas on how the scientific and innovation processes developed within the university can generate public value by positively influencing economic, social and environmental surroundings. Practical implications: The paper provides insight into possible changes in the processes of universities' generating impact on their environment. Social implications: Society is a part of the environment of universities, therefore society would benefit if this impact were optimized. The paper brings findings in this area. Originality/value: The paper combines the theory of the economy with Responsible Research and Innovation and the public value concept in the field of generating impact on the environment by higher education institutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]