This document provides an introduction to the Data4Impact project. Data4Impact aims to improve monitoring of research and innovation activities by developing new indicators. It does this by gathering data on inputs, outputs, and impacts of research and innovation funding and linking this data through a knowledge graph. The document discusses what big data is and how Data4Impact uses big data from various sources like funding data, publications, patents, and news/media. It provides an overview of the Data4Impact framework and key indicators it analyzes related to academic, economic and societal impacts. Examples are given of how Data4Impact tracks information on individual projects, including related publications, patents, innovations, and studies.