‘Professionalising knowledge transfer’

A survey conducted by ProTon Europe gives an overview of the knowledge-transfer activities in Europe.

The European-funded project, ProTon Europe, analysed the knowledge-transfer activities carried out by the special Knowledge Transfer Offices affiliated to European Public Research Organisations. The survey concludes that there is an urgent need to professionalise the activities of these offices.

The offices’ main knowledge-transfer activities consist of interaction with industry and that most of the offices’ knowledge-transfer deals and revenues are related to this type of activity. 

The activity includes different forms of interaction with industry (collaborative research, contract research, consultancy), IPR protection, licensing and spin-out creation.

The survey conclusions also show that European knowledge-transfer outputs related to patents (disclosures, filings, licences) are small compared with the United States. This is, according to the authors, due to the absence of an efficient and easily-accessible patent system in Europe. 

To read a summary of the ProTon Europe survey, please click here.