To help you develop your academic research strategy and maximise its impact!
Introduction
SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) can help you to maximise the impact of your research and find new funding and collaboration opportunities. As a researcher, you’re probably wondering how this analysis can help you and what the key steps are. Your KTO is here to help you!
Why?
This method will provide you with a clear vision of the different aspects of your research project and its exploitation. It will help you identify the competitive advantages you have over other researchers, as well as the gaps you need to fill to maximise the impact of your results. In addition, the SWOT analysis will enable you to identify emerging opportunities in your field, as well as the threats that could compromise the success of your project.
When?
SWOT analysis can be used at different stages of your research work. Firstly, it can be used right at the start of the process to assess the feasibility of your project. It will help you to identify the strengths and weaknesses of your research proposal, as well as the potential opportunities and threats you may face. It can also be used to assess the issues involved in exploiting the results obtained.
For whom?
SWOT analysis is useful for all university researchers, whether they are new or experienced. It can be used by doctoral students to structure their dissertation project, and also by established researchers who want to assess the relevance of their work and look for new opportunities for funding, collaboration or exploitation.
How?
The SWOT analysis is broken down into four parts:
Strengths, weaknesses (internal factors), opportunities and threats (external factors). To identify your strengths, you need to ask yourself about your skills, resources and specific expertise in your field of research. As far as your weaknesses are concerned, it is important to be intellectually honest and to identify the factors that could limit you in your work.
Opportunities are elements that could benefit your research, such as calls for projects, potential partnerships or technological advances in your field. Finally, threats are factors that could hinder your work, such as competition with other researchers or budget restrictions.
By using SWOT analysis on a regular basis, you can continue to assess the relevance of your work and find new opportunities throughout your research career. Don’t hesitate to contact your university’s Knowledge Transfer Office for more information and support in setting up and using SWOT analysis to manage your research activity.
Internal factors
Strengths
1. What are your strengths as a university researcher?
2. What specific skills do you have in your area of research?
3. What are the major successes or achievements of your research career?
4. What advantages does your institution/university offer you in terms of resources,
funding or collaboration?
5. What partnerships or collaborations have you established (with companies, other researchers or institutions, etc.)?
6. What research results can you add value to?
7. Are you going to obtain results that could be industrially exploitable?
8. Are these results innovative/disruptive?
External factors
Opportunities
1. What are the emerging trends in your field of research that could offer you new opportunities for collaboration or funding?
2. What are the potential collaborations with other researchers, institutions or industries that could strengthen your research results?
3. What are the trends or developments in your field of research that could create new opportunities for you?
4. How great is the need or demand for your specific area of research?
Weaknesses
1. What skills or knowledge do you need to improve in your area of research?
2. How comfortable are you in promoting and supporting your research ideas with other researchers or financiers?
3. What obstacles could prevent you from carrying out your research projects?
4. Do you find it difficult to obtain funding for your research projects?
5. What time or resource constraints could affect your research projects?
Threats
1. What are the major obstacles or challenges you face in carrying out your research projects?
2. What is the competition in your field of research and how can you stand out from them?
3. Are there any government policies or regulations that could have a negative impact on your academic freedom or the exploitation of your research results?
4. How could changes in technologies or research methodologies threaten the relevance or value of your research results?
Contact
Réseau LiEU contact@reseaulieu.be +32(0)81/62.25.94
