Георги Няголов

The article outlines the international discussions surrounding the evaluation of research to demonstrate the evolution of the concept of "impact" – from impact solely as a contribution to knowledge, through impact as a contribution to knowledge and the economy, to impact as a contribution to knowledge, the economy, and society. It discusses two approaches to evaluating societal impact and analyses the current state of research evaluation in Bulgaria. In conclusion, the argument is made that societal impact should be systematically evaluated also in Bulgaria.