Knowledge Transfer FAQ
Knowledge Transfer is defined as a set of activities, processes and skills that enable partners to collaborate closely to advance ideas that deliver commercial, environmental, cultural and societal benefits.
What is knowledge transfer?
Knowledge transfer means sharing research, ideas, and skills from universities or research centres with businesses, governments, and society. The goal is to make sure useful knowledge doesn’t stay only in academic papers but is applied in the real world — for example, to improve products, services, or public policies. It’s sometimes called knowledge exchange or research impact.
Why is knowledge transfer important?
Knowledge transfer helps transform research results and academic innovation into practical outcomes that benefit businesses, public services, and communities. It strengthens collaboration between universities and industry, drives competitiveness, informs policy, and ensures that public investment in research has a measurable impact beyond the lab.
Who is involved in knowledge transfer?
Knowledge transfer involves researchers, higher education institutions, knowledge transfer offices, businesses, government bodies, and sometimes citizens. These stakeholders work together to turn academic knowledge into innovation, whether through partnerships, consultancy, or commercialisation. Knowledge transfer professionals often support this process by managing relationships and facilitating collaboration.
What are examples of knowledge transfer?
Examples of knowledge transfer include licensing inventions, launching spin-offs and start-ups, joint research projects with industry, consultancy services, and student placements. It also covers non-commercial routes such as public engagement, policy input, and training programmes. All these activities ensure that research contributes to real-world innovation and development
How does knowledge transfer benefit researchers?
Knowledge transfer enables researchers to see their work used in practice, increasing its visibility and societal relevance. It can lead to new partnerships, additional funding, and professional opportunities. Engaging in knowledge transfer helps researchers broaden their impact, influence policy, and collaborate with non-academic partners to address global challenges.
Is knowledge transfer only about commercialisation?
No. While commercialisation through licensing and spin-offs is a part of it, knowledge transfer also includes non-commercial pathways like open access, community outreach, training, and knowledge sharing with public sector partners. The goal is to maximise the societal and economic impact of research in multiple ways.