Abstract In recent years, research policy has increasingly prioritized the societal impact of academic work, emphasizing external relevance, public value, and collective benefit. In many countries, a wealth of data has been generated by national assessments that require universities to submit narratives on their contributions outside the academy. Despite this, limited attention has been paid to variation in the expression of research value between countries with similar policy frameworks. This article draws on a mixed method analysis, integrating a quantitative embeddings approach and qualitative content analysis, to analyse a dataset of 7,275 impact case studies from the United Kingdom, Hong Kong and Australia. By examining ‘cultural repertoires’—the knowledge, skills, and symbols that inform action—the study reveals that, despite convergence in research policy and assessment, the expression of research value diverges significantly across countries. The findings highlight the nuanced connection between global policy trends and local cultural contexts, offering new insights into how research value is performed in diverse national settings.