Commission sets out plans to boost knowledge transfer
Boosting knowledge transfer between research organisations and businesses is the focus of a new communication released by the European Commission on 4 April. Increasing knowledge transfer is a key goal of the Commission's 10-point innovation plan, which was released last year. It is also a vital component of the European Research Area (ERA). Knowledge transfer is a broad term, referring to both commercial and non-commercial activities, including research collaboration, licensing, consultancy, researcher mobility and publications. The new document sets out how both Member States and the EU can work together to increase knowledge transfer, and is designed to be a starting point for future discussions on a common European framework for knowledge transfer. According to the document, barriers to greater transfer of knowledge in the EU include cultural differences between the science and business communities; lack of incentives; legal barriers; and fragmented markets. And while some countries have set up initiatives to promote knowledge transfer, these tend to have a solely national perspective, ignoring the international dimension of knowledge transfer. The Commission highlights the importance of creating a workforce of skilled knowledge transfer staff in universities and research institutes. 'The personnel working on knowledge transfer must possess a wide range of skills in order to carry out their tasks effectively,' the document states. 'However, relatively inexperienced staff is often appointed to such positions.' Together with some Member States, the Commission is currently designing a qualification and accreditation scheme for knowledge transfer professionals. The document also encourages the pooling of knowledge transfer skills. However, the document is clear that it is not enough for a few specialists to have knowledge transfer skills; all researchers should be encouraged to adopt a more entrepreneurial mindset, in order to encourage interactions with industry, the Commission notes. 'Researchers need to be provided with basic knowledge transfer and business skills,' states the document. 'Entrepreneurship education should be offered to provide training on how to manage intellectual property, interact with industry, start and run a business.' A good way to develop such skills is to encourage exchanges of staff between research institutions and industry, and here the Commission highlights its Marie Curie Industry-Academia Strategic Partnership scheme. The European Institute of Technology also features in the paper. Describing it as Europe's 'innovation flagship', the Commission points out that the EIT will promote research institutions-industry interactions. 'The final goal of the EIT is clearly innovation and translation of the results of research and education into innovative solutions,' it writes. The document also suggests various ways of funding knowledge transfer activities, pointing out that the new state aid framework intends to clarify the rules applicable to research and innovation activities, including knowledge transfer. In addition to the research framework programmes, European funds mentioned in the document include the European Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund and the Cohesion Funds The Commission has also produced a set of voluntary guidelines for universities and other research institutions to help them improve their links with industry. The 20-page document highlights the long-term benefits to universities of working more closely with the business world. These include the enhancement of research activities through access to equipment, attracting good staff, ensuring publicly funded research is relevant, and an increase in status resulting from successful partnerships and products. The guidelines cover issues such as intellectual property management, incentives for researchers to encourage participation in knowledge transfer activities, how to develop a conflicts of interest policy, and developing knowledge transfer resources.