Abstract

Applied research, aimed at solving societal, educational, and professional challenges is becoming increasingly important and is undergoing a process of professionalization. Starting with real-world problems from professional practice, it delivers practical solutions like prototypes, toolkits, and applications and addresses urgent issues such as climate change, technological innovation, healthcare, and social equity. As a result, applied research requires a different approach to project management and the integration of research quality compared to traditional academic research.

This presentation addresses practical challenges of professionalizing applied research, which is still relatively young and lacks clear, consistent frameworks. This is particularly challenging for researchers without traditional research backgrounds, such as teachers, industry professionals, and those without a PhD. These challenges are also evident in the Research Centre of the Faculty of Digital Media and Creative Industries (FDMCI) at the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences (AUAS), where different methods like research through design, co-creation, and artistic research raise complex questions about quality standards and project management.

The interactive roadmap we have developed offers a clear and practical solution for advancing this professionalization. It guides researchers step by step through the process of proposal writing, grant acquisition, and project management, while embedding research quality by addressing the right quality standards. In doing so, the roadmap ensures that researchers do not get lost in the complex landscape of project management, research support, and quality implementation, as the necessary information is readily available.

We also briefly address the challenges encountered during the development of the interactive roadmap. A fundamental challenge was the existence of a limited set of applied research quality standards in the wider research community, as these have not yet been fully developed in the early stages of applied research. We will show how we, in collaboration with researchers, have formulated workable and applicable standards, which have been positively received and critically evaluated by the researchers themselves—a true win-win situation.

By offering an overview of the process rather than a fixed structure, combined with applied research quality standards, the roadmap provides researchers with clear insights and support throughout the entire process, from proposal to completion. This interactive approach thus contributes to the further professionalization of applied research by enhancing both its quality and effectiveness.