Knowledge Transfer Study 2010-2012

Europe seems to be better at producing high-level knowledge than at converting it into socio-economic benefits. In addition to the classical modes of transfer and dissemination of knowledge, such as research publications and exchanges of researchers, Public Research Organisations and Universities performing research need to more actively engage in the exploitation of publicly-funded research results, for instance through academia-industry collaborations, licensing and spin-offs. In April 2008, the European Commission adopted a Recommendation on the management of intellectual property in knowledge transfer activities and Code of Practice for universities and other public research organisations. The aim was to offer a coherent framework for the management of intellectual property by the public research sector, to promote knowledge transfer between the public and private sectors, both within and between Member States. The objective of the European KT Policy Surveys in 2010 and 2012 was monitoring the status of implementation of the European Commission’s “Recommendation on the management of intellectual property in knowledge transfer activities and Code of Practice for universities and other public research organisations” from 2008. Responding to the survey fulfilled the Recommendation’s requirement that Member States should “inform the Commission by 15 July 2010 and every two years thereafter of measures taken on the basis of this Recommendation, as well as their impact”. Associated States were also kindly requested to fill in the questionnaire. The study findings are based on answers from the countries, mostly by representatives of the European Research Area Committee’s working group on knowledge transfer. For four countries – Bosnia-Herzegovina, Italy, Liechtenstein and Turkey – other sources were taken instead.