| In policy debates, countries often highlight the need to revise technology transfer models and strengthen governance for effective science-industry collaboration. Emphasis is also placed on enhancing connections within the national innovation system and refining intellectual property frameworks to balance research protection and open access. | |
| The largest share of policy initiatives supports collaborative research and innovation, promoting partnerships or other forms of collaborative projects between the public and private sectors. Accordingly, initiatives jointly target public research organisations and firms. | |
| Knowledge intermediaries, such as technology transfer offices, are also frequently targeted by policies. At times initiatives try to leverage them to establish or strengthen technology clusters. | |
| Countries use a heterogeneous mix of policy instruments to promote joint research, establish networks coordinating on R&D activities, support technology extension services and regulate and incentivise the use of IP. |
Countries indicated the main policy debates around government support to Knowledge exchange and co-creation in their response to the 2023 EC-OECD STIP survey (raw data included below in Annex A). A number of salient patterns can be identified from these responses:
1. Governance:
2. Improving links within the national innovation system:
3. Strengthening Intellectual Property Frameworks:
4. Modalities of support:
Within the Knowledge exchange and co-creation policy area, the largest share of reported policies address three themes (Figure 1). Collaborative research and innovation is the one most recurrently addressed, gathering programmes that promote partnerships or other forms of collaborative projects between the public and private sectors. Secondly is the Commercialisation of public research results, which includes policies supporting the transfer of academic inventions via the sale, transfer or licensing of intellectual property, often on an exclusive basis, to existing firms or new ventures. The third most frequent theme is Cluster policies theme, including initiatives supporting thematic and/or place-based clusters (e.g. provision and implementation of networking infrastructures and financial support or incentives).
Figure 2 shows that science-industry policies have similar numbers of public research organisations, Firms and Private R&D labs as target groups. Besides research organisations and firms, individual public research actors are also frequently cited, i.e. Established researchers and Post-docs and other early-career researchers for their roles in knowledge transfer and commercialisation policies (see keywords by hovering the corresponding bars with the mouse). These actors, together with Entrepreneurs are also often addressed in academic spin-off policies. Several policies also target intermediaries, which support science-industry linkages, such as Incubators, accelerators, science parks and techno parks, Technology transfer offices and Industry associations.
Knowledge exchange and co-creation policies are delivered through a heterogeneous mix of policy instruments (Figure 3). Policies establish public-private Networking and collaborative platforms to promote regional or thematic innovation clusters. Grants are often allocated for firms or public research organisations, with science-industry collaboration as a requirement. Technology extension and business advisory services are frequently used to support knowledge transfer, research commercialisation and academic spin-offs. The figure also shows Intellectual property regulation and incentives is used with relatively high frequency (unlike in other policy areas). This instrument regulates and promotes the adoption of intellectual property (IP) rights and practices. It is often used by policies seeking to increase the capability of public research organisations to register and license IP.
Most initiatives within the Knowledge exchange and co-creation policy area reporting budget data with up to 20M EUR yearly expenditures (Figure 4). There is little meaningful variation in the keywords across the figure's different budget ranges. Notably, initiatives with yearly expenditures of 100M EUR or higher often address digitalisation and societal challenges. More information and analysis on initiatives addressing these challenges is available in the Research and innovation for society policy area.
Figure 5 shows that the Türkiye has reported the largest number of initiatives in this policy area, followed by Germany, Spain and Ireland. The chart shows only the number of policy initiatives reported by countries and gives no indication of their scale or scope. The figure should therefore be interpreted with care. Clicking on a given bar in the chart will bring you to the corresponding country dashboard for Knowledge exchange and co-creation policies.
Table 1 contains the answers provided by countries (and other entities) to the following question: Briefly, what are the main ongoing policy debates around policy for science-industry knowledge transfer and sharing? You may use the table's search box to filter the data by country or keyword. You may also dowload the data in Excel format.
Table 1. Policy debates in the Knowledge exchange and co-creation policy area
| Response | |
|---|---|
| Austria | Strengthening the partnership between science and industry is a central tenet of the Research, Technology, and Innovation (RTI) Pact for 2024-2026. This is supported by a suite of measures, notably the "Bridge" programme. This symbiosis is especially vital in priority sectors like energy transition, mobility shift, the circular economy, and achieving climate neutrality in urban areas, facilitating the practical application of research. Performance agreements set out a strategic framework for knowledge and technology transfer within academic and research entities. The Federal RTI Strategy 2030 recognises the potential of spin-offs and sets an ambitious target to double the tally of economically viable spin-offs by 2030. Existing performance agreements with universities project a 33% surge in spin-offs. The Spin-off Fellowships, a flagship funding scheme, now extends its horizon to 2026. More details can be found at https://www.ffg.at/en/node/95201. Eligible costs encompass research and technical development, coaching, mentoring, and education expenses. For instance, the tech transfer office furnishes UniVie-applicants with an assortment of supportive measures. Furthermore, there's a robust lineup of programmes designed to bolster applied learning and vocational training across universities, universities of applied sciences, and technical institutions. |
| Belgium - Brussels Capital | The new Regional Innovation Plan places significant emphasis on various initiatives that encourage the transition of technology and knowledge from academia to industry, or the business sector broadly. The Brussels-Capital Region (BCR) is intent on continuing its support for Knowledge Transfer Offices within its higher education institutions, including university colleges. As outlined clearly in the General Policy Declaration (2019-24) of the recent Brussels Government, fostering cooperation among academic researchers, businesses, and the non-profit sector remains a vital priority for the region. Such cooperation propels the transfer and valorisation of research outcomes. Funding programmes that highlight collaboration and knowledge transfer, such as the Joint R&D Project Call by Innoviris, co-creation, or experimental platforms, are anticipated to endure and grow increasingly significant in the future. Disruptive innovation will also receive substantial attention, given its critical role in the region's social and economic transition. The General Policy Declaration (2019-24) also proposes a host of new initiatives to promote knowledge sharing in specific sectors. In the realm of Artificial Intelligence (AI), for instance, the declaration suggests the creation, in partnership with the digital industry and academia, of an integrated research centre centred on AI. In the health sector, the declaration recommends the establishment of an internationally acclaimed cancer research hub at the Erasmus campus in Brussels. Here, researchers, hospitals, and start-ups can engage, thrive, and make significant strides in the battle against cancer. |
| Belgium - Federal government | Science policy in Belgium is a shared responsibility between the federal and regional levels. The process of co-creation and knowledge exchange is more prominent at the regional levels. A crucial sector largely overseen at the federal level is the space sector. Belgium, as a member of the European Space Agency (ESA), enables numerous Belgian enterprises and research groups to participate in ESA programmes. Belgium adheres to the ESA rules on knowledge transfer and sharing. These rules establish a beneficial balance between industrial property rights and the effective utilisation and dissemination of advanced technology developed through ESA programmes. |
| Belgium - Flanders | The policy memorandum for 2019-24 by VARIO underscores the significance of collaboration among Flemish research, development, and innovation (RDI) actors in driving value creation. It highlights the crucial role of VLAIO (Flanders Innovation & Entrepreneurship) in attracting new companies to the innovation ecosystem. To provide companies with access to knowledge and increase the economic value of innovation, Flanders has made investments in the set of instruments offered by VLAIO for fostering collaboration and knowledge-sharing between companies, knowledge institutions, and among companies themselves. The cluster policy is also being pursued, with spearhead clusters including Catalisti, Flux 50, Strategic Materials Initiative, Flemish Innovation Platform Logistics, Flanders' Food, and the Blue Cluster. A seventh spearhead cluster, flanders.healthTech, focusing on personalized medicine, was established in March 2021. Flanders aims to enhance interaction between knowledge institutions and Flemish industries regarding industrial research agendas, bridging the gap between what Flemish universities produce and what the industry requires. Efforts will be made to increase the involvement of Flemish companies in strategic basic research, technology transfer offices, and research infrastructure. In response to requests or in consultation with economic and social actors, Flanders has launched significant initiatives aligned with a mission-oriented innovation policy. These initiatives include the Moonshot program for transitioning to a carbon-smart economy, transition priorities, and policy agendas for artificial intelligence (AI) and cybersecurity. Alongside regular innovation and cluster policies, resources are also dedicated to research addressing major societal challenges such as climate change, digitization, and an aging population. Flanders supports the development of higher technology-readiness levels and is working on a framework to strengthen pilot and demonstration plants. |
| Belgium - Wallonia | In 2023, Belgium - Wallonia did not provide information on 'Knowledge exchange and co-creation' policy debates. |
| Belgium - Wallonia-Brussels Federation | Supporting the careers of PhD holders beyond academia is essential . It's not just about academia; the non-academic world, including the industrial sector, offers a wealth of opportunities for these highly qualified individuals. Early-career researchers require appropriate mentoring to gain awareness of these professional opportunities outside of academic institutions. Furthermore, it's vital to ensure they're equipped with the most suitable skills to thrive in varied professional environments. |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | In 2023, Bosnia and Herzegovina did not provide information on 'Knowledge exchange and co-creation' policy debates. |
| Brazil | Current policy discussions on Brazil's national policy for science-industry knowledge transfer and sharing mainly focus on three areas: (i) the refinement of the intellectual property framework, (ii) strengthening science-industry links, and (iii) talent availability. Refining the Intellectual Property Framework The National Strategy for Intellectual Property, adopted in 2020, was a collaborative effort involving various public bodies, agencies, and key stakeholders. The strategy outlines seven strategic pillars, each with defined objectives and structural plans. Implementation of this strategy is scheduled from 2021 to 2030. Strengthening Science-Industry Links There is a recognised need for deeper integration between Brazil's public research system and the private sector, particularly in aligning more closely with the latter's needs and opportunities. An increase in interactions, collaborations, and partnerships between the public research system and the private sector is essential. The new legal framework for R&D and innovation, adopted in 2018, introduces a range of instruments designed to encourage public-private partnerships with the aim of developing joint research projects. Talent Availability This discussion centres on whether Brazil has the necessary talent to realise its potential for business innovation and innovative entrepreneurship, especially focusing on how the public education sector and the research system can better nurture and develop such talent. This includes embedding the necessary innovation and entrepreneurship skills and promoting specialisation in priority scientific areas. |
| Bulgaria | Funding for technology transfer activities will be sourced from the state budget through the National Innovation Fund in two key areas: (1) covering the operational costs of the Technology Transfer Offices (TTOs), and (2) supporting technology transfer activities conducted by the TTOs. The new law will mandate that TTOs be overseen by a head, with their performance tied to the achievement of Key Performance Indicators such as contracts secured with businesses, international patent applications, private funding attracted, and management of intellectual property, among others. The new Law on the Promotion of Scientific Research and Innovation will oversee the policy for maintaining and enhancing the country's scientific capacity, with an emphasis on areas related to national priorities and strengthening regional roles and competitiveness. The law aims to fortify the consistency of the national framework on intellectual property rights and technology transfer, keeping in mind the recommendations from the World Bank as well as those from the Joint Research Centre on the 14 ERDF co-financed Centres of Excellence and Competence Centres in Bulgaria. Priority Direction 2 of the new Programme for Research, Innovation, and Digitisation for Smart Specialisation: Transfer of Technologies and Knowledge aims to support the establishment of a functional knowledge and technology transfer system, which will aid the process of commercialising the results of scientific research and innovation in industry. The principal types of activities include the development of a national model for knowledge and technology transfer, which is built on the existing TTOs and those planned to be established within the NPVU. It is envisaged to create a national centre to network and foster effective interaction and coordination amongst individual TTOs while maintaining their operational independence. The centre will act as a single point for information exchange between TTOs and businesses, offering guidance, consultation, training in the field, as well as highly professional expertise in areas where dedicated TTOs do not exist. The construction of the most suitable model for our country, its specific characteristics, and the relationships between its participants will be based on the results of mapping the scientific research ecosystem and conducting the necessary feasibility studies. |
| Canada | The Government of Canada (GC) recognises the importance of open and collaborative science and the role of industrial partnerships in driving innovation, economic growth, and social progress. However, debates continue on how to maximise the benefits of research collaborations while safeguarding against foreign interference and unauthorised knowledge transfer. One key area of debate revolves around achieving a balance between the rights of knowledge creators, opportunities for knowledge users, and the broader benefits to Canada. The GC has taken steps to improve Canada's intellectual property (IP) performance, including the launch of the National Intellectual Property Strategy in 2018. The GC supports IP owners in maximising the value of their IP while also protecting the investment of public funds. Balancing IP supports and limitations is crucial to align public and private interests and deliver broad benefits. To further address these objectives, the GC initiated the Strategic Intellectual Property Program Review in 2021. The review aims to assess how IP is integrated into the design and administration of the GC's innovation and science programs. Feedback is being gathered through consultations, interviews, and an online questionnaire to ensure a comprehensive evaluation of IP management and treatment in these programs. Another topic of discussion is improving linkages within the innovation ecosystem to effectively mobilise knowledge. While Canada has world-class post-secondary institutions and government initiatives to support innovation, there are challenges in translating research into commercial opportunities. Commercialising research requires resources and expertise, and researchers often face barriers that limit the market viability of their work, including in accessing resources (e.g.; experimentation platforms, graduated funding tools, etc.) to support their investment in, and protection of, so-called ''intangible assets' (including intellectual property rights) that result from R&D. This not only affects individual researchers but also the overall Canadian economy and innovation ecosystem. To address this, the 2022 federal budget allocated funding to launch a national lab-to-market platform to help graduate students and researchers bring their work to market. The GC has established programs to support innovation clusters that accelerate commercialisation and build Canadian ecosystems. Programs such as the Global Innovation Clusters and the Strategic Innovation Fund's National Ecosystems stream provide funding and support for industry-led collaboration, including SMEs, research institutions, and large corporations. These initiatives aim to develop innovation ecosystems in areas of Canadian advantage, promote collaboration, and scale high-potential technologies. By implementing knowledge-mobilisation initiatives and supporting innovation clusters, the GC aims to position Canada's science ecosystem to respond to market conditions, capitalise on innovation opportunities, create high-quality jobs, and establish Canada as a global leader in the innovation space. |
| Chile | Government support for the National Innovation System (NIS) is primarily channelled towards basic research. The formal system for transfer in Chile is relatively new, with transfer and licensing offices that are no older than 14 years. This factor partly accounts for why Chile excels in the number of publications but lags behind other countries in subsequent steps of the technology transfer process. As a result, Chile is losing ground in certain rankings related to innovation and competitiveness. The central debate within the government pertains to technology transfer hubs. The original design of the hubs, dating back to 2015, emerged because the government was investing hundreds of millions of dollars annually in R&D without observing substantial returns. To address this, the on-campus/off-campus model was established: the on-campus transfer and licensing offices were tasked with scouting technologies and transferring them to the domestic market, while the off-campus hubs were given the responsibility of amalgamating the R&D of various universities and partner R&D centres to achieve a critical mass and facilitate the transfer of technologies and knowledge internationally. The outcomes of this programme have fallen short of expectations for several reasons: (1) the transfer ecosystem was too immature to undertake an initiative of this nature, and the hubs took around three years to implement and establish their corporate governance; (2) government-funded R&D investment is predominantly non-targeted, inhibiting the creation of a critical mass of deep verticals or intelligent specialisation; (3) the hubs and the transfer and licensing offices (TLOs) are vying for some of the same indicators, discouraging TLOs from collaborating or sharing their top technologies with the hubs. This situation has sparked a debate within the government regarding the redesign of this technology transfer model and the improvement of coordination between hubs and TLOs in the technology transfer process. Some stakeholders argue that the hubs programme should maintain the status quo or implement minor modifications, contending that it's premature to assess this tool given its few years of operation and the impact of the pandemic, which has caused laboratories to shut down. Conversely, others maintain that the system should be overhauled, proposing measures that include reducing the number of hubs from three to two, enhancing corporate governance by introducing more independent directors and private sector members (at present, universities and R&D centres, alongside a handful of independent directors, are the only partners), redefining roles, and cutting the total funding of the programme by one-third. |
| Colombia | In 2023, Colombia did not provide information on 'Knowledge exchange and co-creation' policy debates. |
| Costa Rica | The ongoing debate in Costa Rica continues to focus on improving the linkages between the academic sector, including universities and other research institutions, and the private sector. Challenges related to the regulatory framework and institutional regulations within academia have hindered effective collaboration between these sectors. Despite the establishment of technology transfer offices in public universities in recent years, the regulations governing these offices may not be widely known within the academic community and industry actors. The approval of Law 9971 in 2021, which created the Costa Rican Innovation and Research Promotion Agency, has sparked discussions about the necessary transformation process for the institution to effectively address the demands of the sector. These discussions revolve around strengthening institutional capacities, optimising fund management, and improving the allocation of funds to beneficiaries. The aim is to enhance the agency's ability to facilitate and foster collaboration between academia and the private sector, thereby promoting innovation and research in Costa Rica. |
| Croatia | While significant strides have been made in enhancing knowledge exchange over the previous decade, there remains considerable scope for improvement. In this context, knowledge exchange primarily refers to collaboration and exchange between the research and business sectors. It also encompasses interaction and cooperation among researchers and scientists themselves, incorporating principles of open science. Moreover, it includes the collaboration between the research community, businesses, and both governmental and non-governmental sectors. Most knowledge creation is concentrated in the research sector, and collaboration between science and industry is sporadic. More concerted efforts are required to align research more closely with innovation development. Only 1% of R&D in higher education institutions is funded by businesses, and cooperation between SMEs and universities is minimal; 4% of Croatian SMEs collaborate with universities, compared to 10% in the EU-28. To address this issue, strengthening collaboration between public researchers and other stakeholders has been integrated into main national strategies concerning STI policy and economic growth. These include the National Development Strategy 2030, National Recovery and Resilience Plan 2021-2026, Operational Programmes within Cohesion policy 2014-2020 and 2021-2027, Croatian Smart Specialisation Strategy (S3) 2016-2020, and the draft S3 for the period until 2029. Furthermore, as described in the section 'Innovation in firms and innovative entrepreneurship', numerous initiatives are currently underway to stimulate and intensify private RDI in Croatia. Once businesses recognise the full potential of RDI and become stronger RDI players, they will also engage more frequently with the research community. Technology Transfer Offices (TTOs) serve as intermediaries between the research community and the business sector. Recently, several initiatives have sought to encourage more intensive dialogues between these two sectors. The entrepreneurial discovery process, as part of the implementation of the Smart Specialisation Strategy, is a critical form of dialogue for STI policy creation. In the draft S3 for 2029, plans have been made to intensify dialogues and discussions on thematic priority areas and topics, which should act as a prerequisite for knowledge exchange in a more structured and continuous manner. At the end of 2022, the Ministry of Science and Education adopted National Guidelines for technology and knowledge transfer. These Guidelines represent a significant step towards defining and strengthening the position of TTOs within the Croatian innovation system. The Guidelines aim to provide a framework for the effective use of publicly funded research results and offer practical advice to TTOs and managers in research organisations to enhance technology and knowledge transfer activities. This will be achieved through effective management of intellectual property, increased commercialisation, development of an entrepreneurial culture and associated skills in public scientific organisations, and more successful interaction between the public and business sectors. Additionally, the Ministry of Science and Education is working on re-establishing connections with Technology Transfer offices, with the aim of creating a dynamic network of TTOs that cooperate with each other and act as partners in policy creation. |
| Cyprus | Pillar B of the National Research and Innovation (R&I) Strategy 2030, being developed by the Deputy Ministry of Research, Innovation, and Digital Policy (DMRID), aims to create a comprehensive framework for supporting innovation and promoting entrepreneurship in Cyprus. It focuses on the exploitation of research results, attraction of investments, and the establishment of international innovation and high-tech enterprises. The Strategy's Action Plan will include specific measures, actions, and initiatives to facilitate knowledge transfer and commercialization of research results, support startups and innovative companies, foster collaboration between academic and research institutions and the private sector, and attract investments in R&I. The Research and Innovation Foundation (RIF) has already implemented schemes under the national Framework Programme for R&I called "RESTART 2016-2020" to support these objectives. As part of the Cyprus Recovery and Resilience Plan, Component 3.2 aims to introduce policies and incentives to facilitate access to publicly-funded research infrastructures and laboratories, strengthening science-business cooperation. The DMRID is preparing an action plan with four pillars focusing on mapping and digital tools, regulation and legislation framework, policy measures and funding schemes, and other support. To enhance knowledge transfer, the RIF has established a central Knowledge Transfer Office (KTO) that operates as a central hub connected to local units within stakeholder organisations. The KTO provides knowledge transfer support to academic and research institutions in Cyprus and knowledge-intensive SMEs and startups. It aims to effectively manage intellectual property (IP) and promote it through national and international channels to potential technology buyers. Additionally, a review process is underway to amend the legal framework for knowledge transfer, including the creation of spinoffs by the three public universities in Cyprus: University of Cyprus, Open University, and Cyprus University of Technology. Furthermore, seven Centres of Excellence for R&I (CoEs) have been established through the Teaming action of Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe 2021-2027. These CoEs promote R&I excellence in specific scientific fields , strengthen cooperation with the private and public sectors, and contribute to the internationalization of the Cyprus R&I system. |
| Czech Republic | The Czech Republic acknowledges the need to enhance knowledge valorisation to improve its innovation potential and enhance competitiveness. Despite some progress in recent years, the country still lags in this area, and it is crucial to understand the reasons for this. The transfer of knowledge into practical applications is a prominent topic of discussion within the Czech Republic, highlighting the ongoing challenges. There is a growing demand for utilising research and development (R&D) outcomes for public interest purposes, evidence-based policymaking, and application in the public administration sector. The increasing need for implementing R&D results in public administration reflects the call for responsible, effective, and rational decision-making based on evidence. Moreover, the requirement for implementing outputs in the public interest aligns with the societal responsibility of utilising public funds and addressing societal issues such as the COVID-19 pandemic or energy crisis through mission-oriented research. The implementation of National Research and Innovation Strategy for Smart Specialisation (RIS3) support programmes, whether operational programmes or state-funded initiatives, can provide a suitable framework for addressing these challenges. To enhance collaboration between the academic and application sectors, it is necessary to maximize the use of intellectual property rights tools and strengthen the strategic management of Czech research organisations. Improving the utilisation of knowledge from public research in enterprise innovation requires streamlining the dissemination and sharing of knowledge from research organisations and enhancing the functioning and efficiency of Technology Transfer Offices within public research organisations. Consequently, the Czech Republic is implementing various systemic measures to develop Technology Transfer Offices. The Ministry of Education, Youth, and Sports provides support to research organisations through targeted interventions within the Operational Programme Johannes Amos Comenius. Calls launched under this programme aim to strengthen cross-sector cooperation between research organisations and the application sector, maximize the practical applicability of research results, and focus research efforts on areas with high potential for practical implementation. |
| Denmark | The policy debate in Denmark revolves around establishing effective connections between the robust research-based knowledge system and its application in business and society. One key focus is on "roles and collaboration", aiming to support a knowledge-based innovation system where diverse stakeholders work together closely to achieve common goals. The public Danish Cluster Programme 2021-24 exemplifies such collaboration at the governmental level, with the Ministry of Higher Education and Science and the Ministry of Industry, Business and Financial Affairs providing funding for 13 national clusters that leverage the strengths of both the scientific and business communities. Another area of emphasis is facilitating the transfer and utilisation of intellectual property (IP) from academia to industry. This includes simplifying contract negotiations and offering attractive terms for IP access to both existing enterprises and entrepreneurs. In 2019, a joint ministerial and university expert group conducted a review of the legal framework and institutional practices for technology transfer. The review resulted in several recommendations to enhance institutional practices in contract negotiations. The 2019 Peer Review of the Danish Research and Innovation System also addressed university knowledge transfer and put forth recommendations to introduce dedicated funding streams and clarify performance targets related to knowledge transfer within the mission and strategy of universities. |
| Estonia | The primary focus of the current Research, Development, Innovation and Entrepreneurship Strategy (2021-2035) is the transfer and valorisation of knowledge between science and industry. The Ministry of Education and Research has designed several interventions to align public-sector research agendas and activities more closely with business-sector needs. These interventions include promoting researchers' intersectoral mobility, building research capacity to align better with business sector needs, developing the commercialisation, management, and intellectual property skills and capacities of research organisations and higher education institutions, and supporting the design of research infrastructure services. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Economic Affairs has launched new measures to enhance the business sector's capacity to absorb research, development, and innovation, and to support businesses' applied research and technology-intensive product development. |
| European Union | Maximising the socio-economic benefits of research results and innovative technologies is essential for the EU to face the current challenges linked to a sustainable recovery and to a transition towards a more resilient, green and digital Europe in a transforming global environment. While knowledge transfer mainly focuses on technology and commercialisation, knowledge valorisation has a broader scope, including actors from the research and innovation ecosystem and all types of intellectual assets. The European Research Area Policy Agenda for 2022-2024 includes an action to 'Upgrade EU guidance for better knowledge valorisation'. In addition, the importance of ensuring efficient access to research results by intensifying knowledge valorisation are further stressed by the Council conclusions on the New European Innovation Agenda (NEIA). The Commission has stepped up efforts to promote enhanced knowledge valorisation through the adoption of the Council Recommendation on the Guiding principles for knowledge valorisation adopted on 2 December 2022. The guiding principles will be further supported by codes of practice co-created with stakeholders to provide more detailed guidance on the implementation of certain areas of knowledge valorisation. The Commission adopted two recommendations on the code of practice on the management of intellectual assets for knowledge valorisation and the code of practice on standardisation on 1 March 2023. The Commission is currently developing two additional codes of practice focusing on industry-academia collaboration for knowledge valorisation and on citizen engagement for knowledge valorisation expected to become Commission recommendations in 2024. The Research and Innovation Framework Programmes of the Commision promote industry-academia collaboration and put strong emphasis on the management of intellectual assets and their potential market and societal uptake. Next to the numerous services provided to Horizon Europe beneficiairies to manage, control and exploit their R&I results there are initiatives that address key aspects of knowledge valorisation for society and the economy such as co-creation and testing with cities and local communities as well as industry-driven exchanges with academia, intellectual assets management and standardisation. |
| Finland | Finland's objective is to elevate research and development spending to 4% of GDP by 2030. Alongside this aim, Finland endeavours to bolster its science-industry knowledge exchange by promoting academia-industry collaboration. Additionally, through the development of pertinent skills and know-how, Finland intends to broaden the scope of knowledge transfer and identify relevant opportunities at the earliest possible stage. From a science-industry perspective, the unpredictability of public R&D funding has been a significant weakness in the Finnish RDI system over the past decade. Consequently, the Government has strived to improve the predictability and incentives of the R&D operating environment. Furthermore, according to the OECD 2022 Main Science and Technology Indicators report, Finland has the most significant shortage of highly educated workforce among OECD countries. This skills shortage hampers opportunities for R&D activities and knowledge valorisation. A lack of qualified personnel also restricts innovative companies from expanding R&D activities and collaborating with universities and research institutes. An ongoing debate centres on how to enhance knowledge valorisation processes to maximise the value of R&D and knowledge assets. It has been acknowledged that there is a need to bolster the support for knowledge transfer from universities to society and industry. This includes, for instance, terms of research results commercialisation, broader knowledge valorisation, and other key areas highlighted in the EU Council recommendation on the guiding principles for knowledge valorisation. A national intellectual property rights strategy (IPR Strategy) was published in March 2022, which aims to develop related competencies and introduce measures to further improve the current situation. The strategy's vision is that, by 2030, Finland will possess an effective IPR operating environment that supports innovation and creative work, thereby enhancing wellbeing and competitiveness. Business Finland and the Academy of Finland, the largest funders of RDI activities, play a pivotal role in fostering cooperation between the two sectors. There is a wide consensus on the need to improve the efficacy of R&D measures to bolster public sector partnerships, foster closer PPP cooperation, and stimulate innovation activities between partners. Collaboration amongst RDI activities' funders is vital to develop cooperation between the recipients of funding and to facilitate the exchange of knowledge and expertise between research organisations and companies. |
| France | Reinforcing, deepening and accelerating knowledge transfer is among the priorities of France innovation policy. This translates into increasing support to public-private cooperation, technology transfer activities and start-up creation. The Research Programming Law for the years 2021 to 2030 (LPR Law No. 2020-1674 of 24 December 2020) plans to increase the budget dedicated to a number of schemes targeting public-private cooperation in various form: shared laboratories, public-private PhD scheme, industry-backed research chairs. As mentioned in section 3.1, the 'France 2030' plan supports innovation ecosystems, including direct financial support to technology transfer offices. It also aims at support business creation and growth, through dedicated grant schemes and investment in venture funds. This plan builds on previous plans (Investment for the Future Plans) that have dramatically increased the budget dedicated to technology transfer and startup creation since 2010. All these financial measures complement regulations that target IP management as well as human resource mobility, as national authorities consider these two aspects as key to improve knowledge exchange and co-creation. |
| Germany | A dynamic dialogue between politics, science and society is of immense importance for democracy and the legitimisation of political actions. To enhance the general conditions for knowledge exchange among society, science and politics, the Federal Government has initiated the multi-stakeholder process, #FactoryWisskomm. The application of the emerging action recommendations aims to facilitate enduring improvements in science communication within Germany. Furthermore, the German Federal Ministry for Education and Research (BMBF) conducts science years, with annually shifting focus topics. These science years incorporate campaign elements and public engagement of the research community within a funding scheme. An extensive variety of activities and formats serves as an experimental ground for new developments in science communication and public engagement. Simultaneously, during the Year of Science 2022, the BMBF carried out the participation initiative, 'Flow of Ideas' (IdeenLauf). Here, all citizens were encouraged to pose their questions to science. The outcome of this process yielded fresh ideas and impulses for scientific research. In June 2023, the BMBF will issue its participation strategy for research, aiming to advance the use and quality of participation in research and research policy. During the drafting process, both society and science have been intimately involved. For instance, the Citizens' Council for Research (Bürgerrat Forschung), consisting of 50 randomly selected citizens, devised recommendations for bolstering participation in science and research. The Alliance of Science Organisations in Germany issued a statement on Citizen Participation in Research on 9 November 2022. Germany's regions play a significant role in its innovative prowess, as many new ideas originate locally, where innovative work is conducted on the solutions of the future. In order to boost innovation participation, a clear focus must be placed on strengthening and networking key actors from business and science. With its Open Access Strategy, the Federal Ministry of Education and Research is ensuring that research results funded by the BMBF are openly published. The strategy aims to establish open access as a standard in scientific publishing. The Federal Government, in conjunction with the Länder, has committed to intensifying collaboration between universities of applied sciences and businesses. The extension and expansion of the funding programme for Research at Universities of Applied Sciences is promoting cooperation between these universities and private-sector companies through various funding measures. For example, the FH-Impuls programme line initiates and funds topic-oriented strategic partnerships between higher education institutions and their high-research environments. The programme line Quality of Life through Social Innovations (FH-Sozial) aims to develop and implement social innovations through research to meet societal challenges. Through the German Agency for Transfer and Innovation (Deutsche Agentur für Transfer und Innovation, DATI), the Federal Government aims to facilitate the transfer of scientific results, particularly those generated at universities of applied sciences and small and medium-sized universities, from research to application, thereby unlocking new innovation potentials. The concept of DATI is based on a broad definition of innovation, which includes not only technological innovations but also social ones. Additionally, its research funding will be open to all actors and themes. |
| Greece | Despite past efforts to support knowledge exchange and co-creation processes in Greece, the results until recently have not been promising. The initiative to establish Technology Transfer Offices (TTOs), a crucial element of knowledge valorisation, was largely unsuccessful. Most of the services they provided ceased after funding was terminated, with the exception of a few offices that remain active but with different structures and procedures. Furthermore, a dispersed legal framework posed significant obstacles in creating spin-off companies and patenting intellectual property in a way that could add value to both the inventor and the Research and Technology Organisation or Higher Education Institute that provided the research infrastructure. Finally, fostering a culture of knowledge valorisation was not seen as a priority within Higher Education Institutes and was sometimes even regarded as a taboo subject. However, concerted efforts have been made since 2019 to overcome these obstacles, such as: - A new call for Technology Transfer Offices was launched in 2021. The still-active TTOs were incentivised to form networks, design common procedures for operation, cultivate the principles of knowledge valorisation among researchers and society, and disseminate successful results. - A new Sectorial Scientific Council on Knowledge Transfer and Intellectual Property was established in 2021 under the National Council for Research and Innovation (NCRI). The Sectorial Council provided invaluable input, introducing significant changes to the legal framework for spin-off companies and bridging two ministries (the Ministry of Development and Investments and the Ministry of Education and Religious Affairs) on the issue. Simultaneously, it contributed to the design of the new call for TTOs and its successor, set to be launched in 2024. The Council also organised several workshops on technology transfer and intellectual property issues. Overall, a new mentality seems to be taking hold among researchers, students and society at large. Events are frequently organised to showcase successful outcomes from TTO activities, and private organisations are emerging to contribute to this direction. Hopefully, these efforts will be bolstered by the various initiatives of the European Commission to promote ERA Actions 4 and 7. It remains to be seen whether this momentum will be sustained after the upcoming elections. In addition, progress is being made on the procedures for the construction of two Innovation Districts, one in Attika (Chropei) and another in Thessaloniki (ThessIntec). These Innovation Districts will operate under a Public-Private Partnership model, providing physical collocation space for laboratories of public research entities, R&D departments of firms, academic spin-offs and innovative start-ups, as well as financial organisations. This setup will strongly promote co-creation and networking between different elements of the quadruple helix. Attraction of direct foreign investment in Research and Innovation is also expected. Finally, ongoing support for 11 Competence Centres, more than 30 Innovation Clusters, and 7 Digital Innovation Hubs, is expected to invigorate the Greek innovation ecosystem and enhance the country's overall innovation performance. Discussions regarding the establishment of national Joint Undertakings in a limited number of sectors as pilot projects are also underway. |
| Hungary | Hungary's Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Strategy, ratified in 2021, defines three main pillars involving knowledge creation, flow and utilisation. Along these pillars, the Government has recently instigated several new initiatives to develop the Hungarian RDI ecosystem: - Knowledge creation: The Co-operative Doctoral Programme is a performance-based collaboration between key actors (e.g. prospective researchers, enterprises) within the innovation ecosystem. This highly applicable, research-focused, results-oriented training programme offers a meaningful, effective, relevant, and practical PhD degree primarily in the STEM fields over two to four years. - Knowledge flow: o The National Laboratories strive to develop competencies capable of responding to major global problems at an international level, and to apply the results of research and development projects in social, economic, and environmental areas while bringing together actors from the innovation ecosystem. o Science and Innovation Parks will furnish RDI actors in a given region with physical space, infrastructure, and service support. o Competence Centres aim at enhancing the research and development base within research institutes, meeting local RDI needs, serving the R&D requirements of collaboration partners, and developing competitive products and services through inter-sectoral knowledge transfer. o Territorial Innovation Platforms aim to connect Higher Education Institutions and local actors of the innovation ecosystem, providing them with innovation services, research infrastructure, or resources. o Funding scheme for market-driven RDI projects (Piaci KFI): This scheme aims to stimulate corporate RDI activities in consortia with exceptional research and knowledge transfer organisations, addressing societal and economic challenges, and creating value. - Knowledge utilisation: In September 2020, the Hungarian Start-up University Program (HSUP) was initiated with the support of the NRDI Office. HSUP is Hungary's first unified, comprehensive start-up programme at a higher education level. The primary objective of the programme is to acquaint Hungarian university students with the world of innovation, modern entrepreneurship, and the operations of start-ups. It seeks to promote a problem-solving mindset and entrepreneurial mentality through an in-house developed e-learning platform. |
| Iceland | Iceland has established a national Technology Transfer Office (TTO) called Auðna, which serves as the TTO for all universities and leading public research organisations in the country. As a non-profit organisation, Auðna's mission is to support Iceland's scientific community by providing guidance on intellectual property protection, conducting analyses of market and patent landscapes, facilitating connections between inventions and innovative research projects with investors and industry, and enhancing the societal impact of science and technology through commercialisation efforts, both domestically and internationally. Currently, the focus of Auðna is to collaborate closely with universities and public research institutions in order to promote research-based innovation and patenting of inventions. This is achieved through promotional activities and direct engagement with relevant scientists who are identified as potential candidates for science-industry partnerships. There is a growing emphasis on increasing the participation of women in the innovation industry and creating opportunities for innovation to flourish in rural communities. The goal is to foster an innovation-friendly ecosystem that transcends geographical boundaries, ensuring that innovation can thrive regardless of location. |
| Ireland | Ireland has long recognised the value of industry collaborations with public research organisations and has developed a comprehensive and internationally recognised knowledge transfer system. Such collaboration is essential for the full value of the investment in the public research system to be realised. The suite of graduated direct supports for industry-academia collaboration - ranging from Innovation Vouchers through to Innovation Partnerships - remain vital drivers of enterprise transformation. Through the Impact 2030 strategy, we will continue to leverage the existing quality and contribution of our public research system. Significant investment and collaboration with the public research system has created world-class Research Centres, Technology Centres and Technology Gateways in areas of strategic importance for Ireland at each Technology Readiness Level (TRL). The research performing organisations and research funded through these collaborations not only act as magnets to attract and retain investment; they also encourage companies, both Irish and foreign-owned, to develop their R&I activities here. These facilities and the networks they have promoted across the innovation ecosystem locally, nationally and internationally have become important agents of enterprise transformation. It is important that these facilities continue to develop to deliver more comprehensive R&D solutions, improved test-bed capacity, access to relevant equipment and increased numbers of researchers coming through training programmes, and address areas of strategic importance for Ireland. We aim to build critical mass and drive synergies, increasing alignment between facilities and centres with complementary research agendas. We will continue to drive the impact of the Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund. Since 2018, over â¬300 million has been allocated through the DTIF in over 90 collaborations with strong commercialisation and disruptive market impact potential. Future calls under the â¬500 million fund will seek to achieve wider impact across Ireland's strategically important research priority areas that can generate major benefits for the economy and society as a whole. Knowledge Transfer Ireland (KTI) is a key enabler in delivering national objectives for research commercialisation, industry-academia collaborations, and the development of new spinouts. Its forthcoming new knowledge transfer initiatives will be particularly important in bolstering the research commercialisation capacity of the new Technological Universities. KTI will also continue to enhance the National IP Protocol, making it easier to use and promoting its uptake. Spin-out company formation is a key indicator of research commercialisation performance. About half of the 30 spin-outs created annually from the public research system are 'high potential start-ups' (HPSUs), i.e. high value, IP-rich, deep technology companies generating at least â¬1 million in revenue and employing at least ten people within their first three years. These HPSUs are also more likely to win internationally competitive funding for deep tech such as European Innovation Council funding under Horizon Europe. We aim to grow the number of innovative start-ups emerging from the Irish public research system by 25% by 2024. Enterprise Ireland's overarching goal with regard to commercialisation and spin-outs is to increase the number of these companies achieving HPSU status so that they are in a position to achieve as much economic impact as possible. It will strategically leverage the Commercialisation Fund, the New Frontiers entrepreneurship programme and the Technology Transfer/Innovation Office network across the public research system, to turn publicly funded research into commercially viable products, services, and companies. The new R&I competitive funding agency will have an important role to play in how academic researchers are incentivised and supported in their external engagements. Research agencies, in particular the new agency under DFHERIS, and the enterprise agencies will support researchers to engage externally in their region, using their expertise to deliver results that build on their academic impact, while gaining valuable experience at the same time. |
| Israel | One policy debate is centred on determining the most effective methods to facilitate technology transfer from academia to industry. Over recent years, there has been a notable increase in start-ups originating from academic institutions. This has provoked debate on whether such a route is more preferable than patenting and licensing data to existing firms. Questions also arise on whether support should exclusively be given to projects that are supported by veterans of the business world. Another policy discussion is focused on how to prepare industry for future technologies. With ground-breaking innovation, it often proves challenging to identify early business adopters. There is an ongoing debate about how to prepare industry for emerging technologies and encourage adoption. Some discussions centre around the best methods to allow for testing and generating Proofs of Concept (PoC), such as how to reduce inhibitory regulation during the testing phase. Yet another debate concerns the extent to which licensing to Israeli companies should be incentivised. Questions arise regarding whether there should be restrictions on licensing to foreign firms, and if so, how severe these restrictions should be. |
| Italy | In 2023, Italy did not provide information on 'Knowledge exchange and co-creation' policy debates. |
| Japan | Japan aims to establish a new industrial base in which corporations, universities and public research institutes work together. Its goal is to secure diversity and create value by launching a succession of start-ups that work to solve problems. R&D results (e.g. emanating from universities and national R&D agencies) that take into account the needs of cities, regions and society are commercialised through open innovation with start-ups and established businesses, forming a virtuous cycle in which new added value is continuously created. With social needs as a driving force, this cycle actively creates products and services that are applicable on a global scale. Funds obtained through business success and knowledge created by experience accelerate human-resource development and joint research by firms, universities and national R&D agencies. This should lead to an ecosystem in which academia, public R&D agencies, businesses and local governments are closely connected, and a succession of innovative start-ups are created and grow. The formation of a system that seamlessly links these flows at the core of cities and regions creates continuous, interconnected innovations leading to solutions for social issues and social changes, a global expansion of start-ups and increased global investment. To achieve such an ecosystem, the government will drive the creation of needs-pull type innovation, improving the institutional and policy environment to promote the innovation activities of start-ups and operating companies. With the goal of utilising the knowledge of universities and national R&D agencies to meet the needs of society, we will promote new value co-creation through collaboration between industry, academia and government, promote the establishment of start-ups and hub cities, and support human-resource development to underpin the ecosystem. The "University IP Governance Guidelines" were established in March 2023 to indicate how IP rights pertaining to joint research results should be attributed and the authority to implement them, and how startup stock acquisition rights should be utilized as compensation for licensing, which are considered necessary to maximize opportunities for social implementation of IP created by universities and to achieve a virtuous cycle of funding. This will be disseminated to target universities nationwide through collaboration with the Universities for International Research Excellence program, and the Project for Strengthening Regional Core and Distinctive Research Universities, and efforts will be made to improve university IP governance. To promote the management, sharing and utilisation of research data, the government will develop an environment based on an open and closed strategy. Freedom of research will be ensured thanks to a platform that enables research sites to obtain high-quality data and allows cross-sectional retrieval of such data. To this end, a mechanism ensuring data reliability will be essential. At the same time, the government will establish and maintain the world's most advanced research infrastructure comprising networks, data-infrastructure and computing resources. It will promote the wide-ranging use and application of this infrastructure for both industry and academia. |
| Korea | The Technology Transfer Act was enacted in 2000 to promote knowledge transfers in Korea. Since then, various policies and business models have been introduced and extended to encourage technology transfer and commercialisation in both the public and private sectors. Despite the presence of many players, programmes, and organisations (such as technology licensing offices, technology holdings, and incubation centres) aimed at promoting technology transfer and commercialisation, significant gaps still persist between science and industry. Ongoing cross-ministerial discussions with the private sector aim to bridge these gaps, with a primary focus on regulations, demonstrations, connections, and impacts related to technology transfer and commercialisation from a knowledge ecosystem perspective. In particular, these discussions cover the following policy issues: - Reorganising the governance of technology commercialisation by refining macro-level approaches. This involves ensuring the legal integrity of relevant laws, allocating a portion of the R&D budget to facilitate follow-up R&D, and linking the roles of ministries responsible for R&D and technology commercialisation. - Establishing national and regional hubs or clusters for technology commercialisation. This entails placing "anchor organisations" at the centre of these hubs and enabling them to facilitate the connection of various projects, players, and information. - Creating an innovative knowledge ecosystem that invigorates and fosters knowledge exchanges and technology transfer between science and industry. - Developing global digital knowledge exchange platforms that function as open technology transaction and verification centres. These platforms aim to address and resolve chronic issues in technology commercialisation, such as the mismatch between technology demand and supply, accessibility to funding for commercialisation, and technology verification. - Establishing global and regional value chains for technology commercialisation that are tailored to the needs of specific technological fields and connecting them with global value chain networks. |
| Latvia | In 2022, the Innovation and Research Management Council was established, comprising ministers from the Ministry of Education (MoE) and the Ministry of Economics (MoES), as well as directors from the Latvian Investment and Development Agency (LIAA) and the Latvian Council of Science. The Council's purpose is to oversee the implementation and management of research, development, and innovation policies and Latvia's Smart Specialisation Strategy (RIS3). Through regular monitoring, the Council aims to enhance information flow and foster closer collaboration among key public sector institutions responsible for the development, implementation, supervision, and joint monitoring of research, development, and innovation policies, as well as RIS3 in Latvia. Ongoing work is also being carried out to implement a range of projects funded by the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), many of which have experienced delays but are expected to launch in the second half of 2023. The involvement and role of the Latvian Investment and Development Agency (LIAA) in coordinating and managing research, development, and innovation activities have been strengthened. Additional tasks have been assigned to LIAA within the framework of R&D&I. The amendments envision a broader engagement of LIAA in the implementation of RIS3, particularly by providing funding for LIAA's systematic involvement in the establishment, development, and promotion of RIS3 value chain ecosystems in Latvia and abroad. Furthermore, the amendments propose that LIAA take a leading role in the development of future scenarios (foresight) in the field of R&D&I and in researching the strategic development of priority ecosystems. |
| Lithuania | In 2021-2022, a policy debate was conducted to prepare the 2022-2030 Research Development Programme (RDP). The debates involved representatives of politicians, policy makers, scientists, innovators, experts from the Ministry of Education, Science and Sport, the Ministry of Economy and Innovation, the Research Council of Lithuania, the Lithuanian Academy of Sciences, research and study institutions, and research associations. During the debates, several identified problems were discussed, including the lack of knowledge and technology transfer competences, specialists, and activities. It was also noted that there is a limited need for R&D services in state institutions, insufficient entrepreneurial competences, a lack of integration of transversal skills into student and researcher training programmes, untapped opportunities for cooperation, a shortage of knowledge-intensive companies, and an underdeveloped national support system for spin-off companies in research and study institutions. To address these problems, an objective was set to promote the development of knowledge-intensive businesses, enhance collaboration between science and business, and cultivate an entrepreneurial culture in higher education and research institutions. Specific measures were formulated, such as improving the science and study environment, strengthening innovation ecosystems in research centres, and implementing mission-based science and innovation programmes. Actions during 2021-2022 aimed to strengthen the system of knowledge transfer and commercialisation, as well as enhance scientific management and knowledge commercialisation abilities in scientific and study institutions (spin-off initiatives). The RDP has recently commenced, and therefore many measures from the previous investment period (2014-2020) are being continued to ensure the continuity of actions and a smooth transition to the implementation of the RDP. |
| Luxembourg | In 2023, Luxembourg did not provide information on 'Knowledge exchange and co-creation' policy debates. |
| Malaysia | Malaysia aims to solve existing challenges to the creation of a successful innovation ecosystem by developing platforms to share knowledge between multiple actors and industry-related knowledge dissemination channels, and further strengthening the connections between them. In line with the international principle of ensuring that research data are findable, accessible, interoperable and reusable (FAIR), the Malaysia Open Science Platform is a centralised virtual knowledge repository that integrates, synergises and co-ordinates access to STI-related information. Integrating the diverse data streams and huge data sets across multiple disciplines offers unprecedented insights and solutions to complex local, regional and global challenges. Collaborative networks, for example the Researcher Industry Scientific Exchange, and the Public-Private Research Network, have also been established to strengthen government-industry linkages, facilitate knowledge transfer and catalyse R&D. |
| Malta | The draft National R&I Strategic Plan 2023-2027 includes several recommendations to increase knowledge transfer and sharing. Among these, under the 'Strengthening R&I Governance' pillar, the draft Plan recommends increasing knowledge sharing across the Government's scientific roles in order to develop a more systematic approach to addressing national R&I priorities. The draft Plan also recommends the launch of a pilot Knowledge Transfer Partnership scheme which provides an opportunity for increased industry-academia collaboration for commercialisation. Malta's participation in the MLE on Knowledge Valorisation will also provide insights into the best practices being undertaken on an EU level to strengthen valorisation mind-sets, skills and capacities, to provide relevant and fair incentive systems and to improve intellectual asset management. Malta will particularly seek to better increase its understanding of the various approaches linked to intermediaries, given the growing role that these actors play in the local R&I ecosystem. |
| Mexico | In this new humanist vision of the current government, the incorporation of results from human-centric STI into productive and industrial processes, trade, service provision, popular consumption, and the management and administration of public affairs is sought. While there are no concrete examples yet available, hopefully there will be some examples next year when the results of this government's programmes are under review. Therefore, open access to information derived from humanistic and scientific research, technological development, and innovation is important. A first effort is being made through the National Repository of Information and National Computing Ecosystems (ENI), which contain the results of publicly funded research. The ENI are considered as open access spaces for data analysis and information visualisation in the ten main priority thematic agendas. This information is available to the general public. However, registration is required to access it in some ENI. Mechanisms will be established to create collaborative spaces that contribute to local and regional knowledge in order to address Mexico's priority issues. These mechanisms will be mainly national initiatives and involve al sectors. The System of Public Research Centres (CPI) is a group of 26 public scientific and technological institutions dedicated to high-level research and teaching in various fields of knowledge, as follows. I. Humanities and Social Sciences: a) Centro de Investigación y Docencia Económicas, A.C.; b) Centro de Investigaciones y Estudios Superiores en AntropologÃa Social; c) El Colegio de la Frontera Norte, A.C.; d) El Colegio de Michoacán, A.C.; e) El Colegio de San Luis, A.C., y f) Instituto de Investigaciones "Dr. José MarÃa Luis Mora"; II. Health and Environment: a) Centro de Investigación CientÃfica de Yucatán, A.C.; b) Centro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo, A.C.; c) Centro de Investigación y Asistencia en TecnologÃa y Diseño del Estado de Jalisco, A.C.; d) Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas del Noroeste, S.C.; e) El Colegio de la Frontera Sur; f) Instituto de EcologÃa, A.C., y g) Instituto Potosino de Investigación CientÃfica y Tecnológica, A.C.; III. Technological Development and Innovation: a) Centro de IngenierÃa y Desarrollo Industrial; b) Centro de Investigación CientÃfica y de Educación Superior de Ensenada, Baja California; c) Centro de Investigación en Ciencias de Información Geoespacial, A.C.; d) Centro de Investigación en Matemáticas, A.C.; e) Centro de Investigación en Materiales Avanzados, S.C.; f) Centro de Investigación en QuÃmica Aplicada; g) Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo Tecnológico en ElectroquÃmica, S.C.; h) Centro de Investigaciones en Ãptica, A.C.; i) CIATEC, A.C. "Centro de Innovación Aplicada en TecnologÃas Competitivas"; j) CIATEQ, A.C. "Centro de TecnologÃa Avanzada"; k) Corporación Mexicana de Investigación en Materiales, S.A. de C.V.; l) INFOTEC Centro de Investigación e Innovación en TecnologÃas de la Información y Comunicación, y m) Instituto Nacional de AstrofÃsica, Ãptica y Electrónica. Public Centres have technical and administrative autonomy. One of their objectives is the training work at the postgraduate level, without prejudice to that carried out at another level of higher education (undergraduate and postgraduate studies taught by the Public Centres will be free), and in accordance with their areas of specialisation, they will collaborate with the competent authorities in the promotion of metrology, in the development of official Mexican norms and standards, and in their evaluation, in compliance with the provisions of the legislation in force. They also have the scientific infrastructure to provide scientific and technological services. The public administration is expected to use their services, but they do not provide any goods or services. During the pandemic, these centres collaborated in the production of mechanical ventilators with antibacterial gel, and some of their researchers were even involved in the development of predictive models. |
| Netherlands | Each university has set up its own technology transfer office since the 1990s. Since fields like life sciences and nanotechnology require very specialised know-how (including on intellectual property rights), these offices now work together much more closely. Many teaching professors are part-time workers funded by business, and they act as bridges between academia and business. In the past, universities working with companies were seen as 'selling out' to commerce. Attitudes have since changed, and such co-operation is very popular. For example, groups of masters students ('dream teams') work with companies to develop new products ( e.g. a solar electric car, hyperloop and fast tools for medical diagnosis). |
| New Zealand | Increasing the exchange of knowledge within the New Zealand Research, Science, and Innovation (RSI) system remains a primary policy objective of the New Zealand Government. This includes interactions between institutions and researchers, researchers and businesses, and at the international level. In November 2022, the Government unveiled the Te Ara Paerangi / Future Pathways White Paper, outlining the next steps in its reform of New Zealand's RSI system. Within this document, Policy Direction 1.2 'Accelerate Innovation, Diversify, and Scale-Up Impact' includes proposals to grow existing connections between research, industry, and other end-users. Among other measures, this involves better utilising existing organisations and agreements such as the Commercialisation Partner Network, the Product Accelerator, and the HealthTech Activator. |
| Norway | A white paper titled "Education for change - Better working life relevance in higher education" was presented to Stortinget (the Norwegian Parliament) in March 2021. The paper recognises the shift from a resource-based economy to a knowledge-based economy and the need for a highly skilled workforce with relevant competencies in a changing landscape driven by technological advancements, globalisation, and the imperative of a green transition. The white paper emphasises the importance of enhancing cooperation between higher education institutions and the labour market, with a focus on work-based learning and the development of innovation and entrepreneurial skills within higher education. The government sees potential for further commercialisation of publicly funded research. In 2023, changes were implemented in the FORNY programme to strengthen the early commercialisation phase and enhance higher education institutions' commercial exploitation of publicly funded research results. Open access to research findings is considered crucial for knowledge development and application, as it allows users in the research community, private sector, and general public to share and access the results of publicly funded research. |
| Peru | Peru has actively promoted knowledge transfer between academia, the public sector, and industry through various means, including technology parks, research networks, and intellectual property protection. However, there is still room for improvement in transferring knowledge from academia to industry to enhance the performance of SINACTI. Generating scientific and technological knowledge relies on highly skilled human talent and adequate infrastructure and equipment. These resources enable scientists, researchers, and technology-oriented entrepreneurs to conduct STI activities and produce efficient solutions to societal problems, ultimately improving productivity, competitiveness, and market access through economically and environmentally sustainable processes. |
| Poland | The discussion on knowledge transfer and exchange between academia and industry was initiated with the work on the White Paper on Innovation in 2016. This entailed extensive discussions and consultations with the scientific, research, and business communities led by the Ministry of Education and Science. Poland has significant potential for the development of a knowledge-based economy. Polish society is relatively well educated, science in Poland is at a good level, and some entrepreneurs are able to be successful on domestic and foreign markets. Global experience shows that in technologically leading countries, the majority of expenditure on research and development (R&D) is borne by enterprises. The aim of state policy (as well as EU funds) is to increase the interest of entrepreneurs in the implementation of innovative research results. The role of the introduced instruments is to support funding mechanisms for applied research, which would combine two extensive research systems: - the grant system enables funding of basic research (e.g. all NCN grants) and, - implementation research system conducted with industrial partners (the vast majority of NCBR grants). According to many researchers, the NCBR can finance applied research and has appropriate resources, but it does so insufficiently. An example of a grant mechanism that tries to bridge the gap between basic research and theirs implementation is the "TANGO" call recently announced by the NCN and NCBR. However, it is limited to two separate stages: 1) the conceptual phase, which aims to identify the application potential of the results of basic research and to acquire an industrial partner for their implementation, and 2) the research phase, which is focused on the implementation phase. The ERC "proof of concept" grants are a model for national instruments in this scope. Entities responsible for supporting commercialization processes in scientific units are technology transfer centres or special purpose vehicles specially created for this purpose. According to data collected by the Information Processing Centre of the National Research Institute (OPI), as of September 2022, there were 102 special purpose company operating at universities. If a public university obtains financial benefits from the commercialization of research results (e.g., the sale or licensing of an invention resulting from scientific research), the creator-employee is guaranteed the statutory right to participate in the benefits obtained. This guarantees the implementation of the demands made by the researchers. The Ministry of Education and Science actively supports the commercialisation process of scientific research and development work results. This is the objective of 'the Innovation Incubator' programme. The support is addressed to HEIs and special purpose vehicles established by HEIs. The following tasks are carried out: - Conducting pre-implementation work, including additional laboratory tests or adapting the invention to the needs of the interested buyer; - Preparing projects for the commercialisation of scientific research and development work results, including analyses of market potential and readiness for implementation, as well as valuation of industrial property rights; - Initiating and strengthening cooperation between the scientific community and the economic environment, including searching for entities interested in implementing research results, through the promotion of the technological offer and participation in exhibitions and fairs; - Managing the technology portfolio, including monitoring and analysis of research results in terms of their usefulness, analysis of market needs and examination of the state of the art before starting research, and analysis of the possibilities of obtaining patent protection and the potential for commercial. Business entities, business organisations and consolidated state-owned companies are more and more active in these activities. |
| Portugal | Debates centre on strengthening intermediation ecosystems to structure and consolidate the network of interface institutions while reducing existing gaps in knowledge transfer. This follows recommendations from the European Semester and is embedded in the Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP). A crucial issue is achieving greater stability and predictability in the funding model, with one-third of funding coming from basic sources, one-third from competitive sources, and one-third from the market. Additionally, there is a need for clearer missions between complementary institutions such as Collaborative Laboratiories and CTIs (Technology and Innovation Centers), as well as improved evaluation methods. Multiannual funding for CITs is supported by the Fund for Innovation, Technology, and Circular Economy (FITEC), and these initiatives are part of the RRP. The availability of human resources, equipment, and technical resources is essential for creating a more interconnected ecosystem that links the scientific and technological system to the social and economic fabric, facilitating knowledge transfer and economic and social valorisation. The RRP has significantly promoted synergies, particularly through the 'Mobilising Agendas for Business Innovation' and the 'Capitalisation and Entrepreneurial Innovation' component of the Mission Interface. These initiatives address the challenges of the twin transition and the need to quickly integrate new knowledge and breakthrough technologies into society and production, particularly in the context of sustainability. Promoting intersectoral mobility between academia and industry remains a priority, and recent scientific employment measures have strengthened research activities in non-academic environments. Regional Smart Specialization strategies also support knowledge transfer through dedicated support for higher education institutions and the creation of innovation ecosystems at the regional level. The recruitment of highly qualified human resources has been enhanced to increase intersectoral mobility. Several national organisations have agreed on reforming research assessment, while signatories of the Agreement on Reforming Research Assessment, and by joining the the Coalition for Advancing Research Assessment (CoARA), such as universities and polytecnics, research performing organisations and the funding agency FCT), to reward open collaboration, early knowledge and data sharing, and collaboration with societal actors. Strategic procurement and resolving intellectual property rights (IPR) issues in public research are important for intensifying knowledge transfer. Co-creation activities, such as Citizen Science, have been promoted by academia and academic societies, engaging citizens as data collectors in various fields. |
| Republic of North Macedonia | In 2023, Republic of North Macedonia did not provide information on 'Knowledge exchange and co-creation' policy debates. |
| Romania | Since mid-2019, national ministries and Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) have been collaborating through the Coordinating Committee for Smart Specialisation (CCSI). This aims to reach consensus on the complementarities between national and regional specialisation domains within the framework of the National Strategy for Research, Innovation and Smart Specialisation 2022-2027 (SNCISI). In a broader context, the national RDA Association in Romania is just beginning a collaborative project with the OECD. All the RDAs will participate in this initiative. The project aims to enhance the RDAs' capacities as R&I advisory hubs in a comprehensive sense. The focus is not only on supporting future Regional Operational Programme (ROP) project applications but also on encouraging a creative R&I interface with society. This initiative seeks to emphasise the largely untapped potential of community participation in innovation, particularly harnessing the creativity of young individuals. |
| Serbia | The absence of a national framework governing the transfer of scientific knowledge to the economy, along with the adoption of various regulations by universities, has led to disharmony and unequal opportunities for the protection of intellectual property created within the university. An initiative has been launched to establish a system and regulatory framework at the national level that defines technology transfer, including science-industry knowledge sharing. This initiative aims to determine the modalities for protecting and commercialising intellectual property created within these organisations. Effective knowledge transfer mechanisms, such as the Technology Transfer Programme managed by the Innovation Fund and the Industry-University Collaboration Programme, enable the exchange of knowledge and expertise between researchers and industry representatives. By facilitating these partnerships and implementing measures that encourage industry engagement, Serbia is improving the practical application of scientific results, fostering innovation-driven entrepreneurship and supporting the growth of a competitive economy. While these are some notable efforts, Serbia faces particularly low levels of technology transfer and patenting activity. The current landscape reflects a gap between the vibrant research conducted within universities and research institutions and the practical application of this knowledge within the economy. One significant challenge lies in the varying attitudes toward intellectual property across institutions. While some universities have embraced a proactive approach to protect and commercialize intellectual property, others lag due to limited resources, awareness, or incentives. Addressing this disparity is crucial to ensuring a level playing field and maximizing the impact of intellectual assets.The lack of clear guidelines for universities and researchers on issues such as licensing, patents, and ownership rights hinder innovation and collaboration. Addressing the challenges and complexities in knowledge exchange, intellectual property management, and the role of public universitiesn in Serbia is an ongoing process. It involves creating a cohesive national framework, fostering a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship within academia, and engaging all relevant stakeholders. |
| Slovak Republic | Industry-academia interactions are key to knowledge valorization. They foster a mutually benefitting exchange between knowledge generators and business actors, boost private investments in research, lead to more inventions and patents, facilitate the flow of latest technologies and talents into companies, enhance researchers' and students' skills and understanding of the market needs, and nurture an entrepreneurial mind-set. Therefore, Slovakia is aware, that in order to improve the level of research and development and the innovation potential of the Slovak Republic, the attention, new strategies and action plans need to be taken in this sector. The main problem, as already mentioned, can be seen in the transformation and sharing of information from the scientific industry to both small and medium-sized enterprises. In Slovakia, SMEs do not consider information from universities and public research institutions as important for their innovation activities. Information for innovation usually comes from their customers or from the environment in which the firms operate. The situation is slightly better for large enterprises, but needs improvement compared to other more innovative countries. Slovakia therefore needs to do more to promote cooperation between science and industry. |
| Slovenia | The main debates and activities on the scientific component concern the direction and level of support for knowledge-transfer activities. The ministry, responsible for science, started to financially support, through the ESIF funding, the technology transfer offices project, which provides focused support allowing public research organisations (PROs) to establish and develop specialised units dealing with knowledge transfer. Through this project, the ministry is supporting the establishment of a knowledge-transfer community in Slovenia that will enable PROs to make significant progress in this field. Within ESIF 2021-2027 the ministry will also ensure funding for some activities of TTO offices, while stable funding for basic activities will have to be ensured also within RPO to strengthen the internal capacities. Furthermore, the action plan for knowledge transfer, which is part of the Resolution on the Slovenian Scientific Research and innovation Strategy 2030 is in the process of preparation or co-creation with the relevant stakeholders (TTO offices, RPO, ministries, relevant experts) and will provide the concrete activities for improving the knowledge valorisaton processes. Setting innovation partnerships through relationship-building and networking facilitation is the main challenge to boost collaboration. Connecting stakeholders enables the implementation of innovative ideas and solutions by creating shared ownership and spreading risks to a larger group of actors. Cooperation refers to connections and behaviour between actors in the system, which are established through dedicated instruments, mechanisms or platforms or through informal means. |
| South Africa | The 2019 White Paper on Science, Technology, and Innovation and the associated 2021-2031 Decadal Plan aim to strengthen the Government's role as an enabler of innovation, including addressing market failures and encouraging private-sector investment. The Government funds R&D and innovation in the NSI, supporting initiatives ranging from fundamental research to enhanced technology transfer and diffusion from the science sector. This requires skilled human resources, infrastructure, effective technology transfer mechanisms, and more efficient use of technology in the business and government sectors. Promoting knowledge transfer and dissemination remains a policy priority in South Africa, informed by policy debates on questions such as ways to support the commercialisation of publicly funded intellectual property. Ensuring that legislation on intellectual property rights from publicly financed R&D responds. The 2019 White Paper on STI emphasises the Government's commitment to enhancing the diffusion of knowledge and encouraging the sharing of ideas and research results. To this end, it is promoting an open-science paradigm, particularly pertinent in this changing policy context. |
| Spain | The reform of the Science, Technology, and Innovation Law (STI Law, see 'Public research system' section) introduces significant changes to (i) facilitate knowledge transfer, (ii) remove existing barriers to collaboration between public institutions and the private sector (particularly SMEs), and (iii) promote intersectoral mobility. Some of these measures are designed to enhance the capacity of researchers and other R&D staff to transfer knowledge. This includes introducing financial incentives for transfer activity, offering benefits from the exploitation of results, and adapting the regulation on participation in newly generated companies and on the mobility of public sector researchers. Moreover, the Law includes measures targeted at universities and public research organisations, such as (i) assessing their transfer activity as a criteria for public resource allocation, and (ii) encouraging greater integration of knowledge transfer in their missions and strategic plans. These measures are further supported and developed in the recently approved Organic Law of the University System. The STI Law reform also promotes initiatives for collaborations between technology centres from different regions, their internationalisation. It also supports other intermediaries such as scientific and technological parks, business associations and clusters, technological platforms, knowledge and innovation communities, and other entities and programmes with similar objectives. Furthermore, the amended STI Law introduces provisions related to sandboxes, allowing the implementation of pilot research, development and innovation (RDI) projects and measures to streamline the procedures for granting and justifying aid. It also simplifies the processing of public-private agreements on RDI and promotes adopting measures to reduce administrative burdens. The Startups Law (see section on 'Innovation in firms and innovative entrepreneurship') includes various administrative, fiscal, and remuneration measures intended to facilitate the creation and growth of innovative, knowledge-based companies (emerging companies or startups), attract and retain talent, and stimulate investment. It also encourages public-private collaboration and the creation of innovative start-ups within the university environment, while regulating controlled testing spaces or regulatory sandboxes. Furthermore, the Ministry of Science and Innovation has approved the Transfer and Collaboration Plan, which is based on three pillars: knowledge transfer, public-private collaboration for innovation, and training and development of the STI ecosystem. This plan follows the OECD recommendations developed in the Roadmap to Foster Co-operation Between Universities, Research and Business in Spain. Lastly, the regulations for Knowledge Transfer Offices (KTOs or OTCs in Spanish) have been reformed to promote transformation processes, alliances, and pooling of services by OTCs, either at a territorial level or by sector. |
| Sweden | Knowledge transfer between science and industry in Sweden primarily occurs through the employment of scientists and other skilled labour by the industry. This allows for direct application of scientific knowledge within industrial settings. Additionally, Vinnova, a government agency, provides funding for collaborative projects between researchers in universities and industry, facilitating knowledge exchange and collaboration. In Sweden, researchers, rather than universities, own the intellectual property (IP) rights to the results of their research. This incentivises researchers to commercialise their findings. However, it can also lead to limited investment from universities in starting and growing companies based on research, resulting in potential missed opportunities. The holding companies at universities, which play a crucial role in commercialisation efforts, often face challenges related to undercapitalisation. There is a significant need for improved intellectual property rights services to better support innovative firms in Sweden. Enhancing these services would aid in protecting and leveraging intellectual property, fostering innovation and commercialisation. Collaboration between science and industry also extends to research infrastructures and test and demonstrator facilities. The government targets these arenas as key areas for science-industry collaboration. The long-term governance and funding of large research infrastructures such as the European Spallation Source (ESS) and MAX IV are currently subjects of debate, highlighting the importance of sustainable support and effective utilisation of these facilities for scientific and industrial advancements. |
| Switzerland | In June 2022, the Federal Council of Switzerland issued several mandates to strengthen knowledge and technology transfer for the benefit of startups. One of these mandates involves the development of guidelines for transparent regulation of intellectual property at universities. The goal is to establish clear rules and procedures regarding the ownership, protection, and commercialization of intellectual property generated through university research. Another measure introduced is the direct support of innovation projects by startups in preparation for their market entry. The revised Federal Act on the Promotion of Research and Innovation enables Innosuisse, the Swiss Innovation Agency, to provide direct support and funding to startups for their innovation projects. Furthermore, the Federal Council recognizes the need to further support entrepreneurial initiatives at universities. This may involve assisting universities in building expertise in the patent system and potentially providing start-up financing for patent costs. By addressing the high costs associated with patenting, universities can overcome financial barriers and support more start-up projects. These initiatives aim to improve the attractiveness of Switzerland as a destination for startups and enhance knowledge and technology transfer between universities and the business sector. The implementation and effectiveness of these measures are currently being examined as part of the ongoing preparations for the Dispatch on the Promotion of Education, Research, and Innovation for the years 2025-2028. |
| Thailand | Interaction and knowledge exchange between academia, including researchers and innovators, and users, being the industry and society at large, are extremely important to ensure that developed technologies and innovations meet user requirements and expectations, guaranteeing successful outcomes. Co-creation has now been employed as a strategy for public research administration, notably in the Program Management Unit on Area Based Development (PMU A) and the Program Management Unit for Competitiveness (PMU C). Grants provided by PMU A emphasise collaborations between academic and research institutes, local government administration offices, and communities, aiming for community development, grassroots economy development, and an inclusive society. Outstanding projects include poverty eradication and the development of local entrepreneurs to boost the grassroots economy. With a mission to administer research funds to enhance the nation's competitiveness by fostering collaboration between the public and private sectors in Thailand and abroad, and advancing research outputs to markets, PMU C allocates research funds to teams of academia and the industry and encourages joint investments from the private sector. This approach is a strategy to innovate ready-for-commercialisation technologies and solutions. A notable example is the development of electric vehicle (EV) conversion technology. Research grants were given to consortia of academia and local auto-makers to develop EV conversion, resulting in an array of EV conversion prototypes for trucks, buses, passenger cars, and motorcycles ready for commercial production. Innovation hubs, such as science parks and technology parks, provide a physical space for academia, industry, government, and society to come together for innovation co-creation, enabling research to make social and economic impacts. Key innovation hubs in Thailand include Thailand Science Park, Software Park Thailand, and regional science parks located in major universities in the north, northeast, and south of Thailand. In November 2022, the Eastern Economic Corridor of Innovation (EECi) was officially opened. Located adjacent to Thailand's Eastern Economic Corridor - a special economic zone, EECi is designed to serve as an infrastructure for developing and advancing research and innovations from lab to market, with a focus on six target industries: 1) modern agriculture and advanced biotechnology, 2) biofuel and biochemical, 3) battery and modern transport, 4) automation, robotics, and intelligent electronics, 5) aerospace and aviation, and 6) medical devices. It is the key national STI infrastructure to support the value creation of farm products, industrial transformation, and development of future industries. Current and future facilities include Sustainable Manufacturing Center (SMC), Smart Greenhouse, Plant Phenomics Facility, Plant Factory, Biorefinery Pilot Plant, Alternative Battery Pilot Plant, Connected and Autonomous Vehicle (CAV) Proving Ground, the 4th generation 3.0 GeV Synchrotron Light Source, and Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Proving Ground. In addition to the aforementioned innovation hubs, a number of facilities and platforms have been introduced to bring the government and academia to work closely with the industry - encompassing large corporates, SMEs, and even community enterprises - and give entrepreneurs much-needed access to infrastructure, expertise, and finances to take their ideas to the market or make their businesses sustainable. The Program Management Unit for Competitiveness (PMU C) established a funding program called Deep Science & Technology Accelerator Platform that provides grants to enable universities to develop infrastructure and innovation ecosystems to help researches make a leap from labs to markets. Food Innopolis aims to increase the competitiveness of and create an innovation ecosystem for the Thai food industry through a comprehensive platform that connects food manufacturers to a variety of services in infrastructure (pilot plants, maker spaces, food labs, testing labs), expertise (marketing, flavor innovation & sensory, functional ingredients, FDA registration), training, and acceleration programs. A new center called Thailand Science Park & DEPA Acceleration Center or TD-X Center was launched in March 2023 to accelerate the growth of startups and SMEs. The center provides rapid prototyping services and a network of experts drawn from the public and private sectors to empower enterprises to speed up the launch of their innovative products and achieve sustainable growth. The Sustainable Manufacturing Center (SMC) offers a space for industry, academia, system integrators, and technology vendors to create a dynamic ecosystem to support the industry 4.0 transformation of the Thai industry, whereas the Biorefinery Pilot Plant, currently under construction and expected to be fully operational in 2024, will support co-creation in the area of biobased products. |
| Türkiye | Türkiye prioritises the development of technologies to address global risks and transform them into opportunities. The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Türkiye (TÜBITAK), as the major R&D and innovation funding agency, emphasises co-creation and collaboration to develop result-oriented solutions. The Twelfth Development Plan, covering 2024-2028, focuses on policy measures that implement quadruple helix, large-scale partnerships, and co-creation models. Co-creation involves joint knowledge and innovation production between industry, research, government actors, end users, and civil society in the R&D ecosystem. TÜBITAK mobilises R&D and innovation accumulation through platforms such as 'High Technology Platforms Support' and 'Industry Innovation Networks Mechanism (SAYEM).' These platforms promote research team competence, concertation, and complementarity. The Digital Innovation and Collaboration Platform (DÄ°Ä°B Platform), coordinated by the Digital Transformation Office (DTO), brings together stakeholders in areas AI, data science, and robotics to create economic and technological added value. Similarly, the Türkiye Technohub Platform registers technology entrepreneurship stakeholders for increased visibility and collaboration. During the COVID-19 pandemic, TÜBITAK established the COVID-19 Türkiye Platform to mobilise researchers from academia, public R&D units, and industry for vaccine and drug development projects. TÜBITAK funded research projects aligned with the platform's roadmap, ensuring collaboration and data sharing. Thist co-creation model then extended to areas including combating natural disasters and the green-digital twin transition. TÜBITAK provides diversified support for the co-creation-based R&D ecosystem, including the Needs Based R&D Programme and Patent-Based Technology Transfer Support. The Industrial Doctorate Fellowship Programme trains PhD candidates through university-industry consortiums, while the International Fellowship for Outstanding Researchers Programme integrates top researchers into the ecosystem. TÜBITAK also supports outstanding researchers and transfers know-how and technologies acquired by its research centres and institutes to the private sector. |
| Ukraine | Recently, the debate on improving the information supporting technology transfer has been intensifying. Ukraine lacks the modern and necessary innovation infrastructure for innovators, and innovators lack information about real market demands for new developments. Often, developments occur without considering the needs of the market. Such issues complicate their commercialisation. MES of Ukraine has developed a draft law of Ukraine "On Amendments to Certain Laws of Ukraine on Stimulating Activities in the Sphere of Technology Transfer" (Registration No. 4623 of 21 January 2021). Among other novelties, the draft law proposes ensuring access of institutions and organisations of the government system of scientific and technical information to market, economic and patent information from foreign sources and databases; creation and maintenance of web portal activity on innovation activity and technology transfer; ensuring monitoring of the technological level and readiness for the implementation of technologies and their components, created at the expense of the budget, as well as the demand of business entities for them. The Ministry is creating digital tools that, in the conditions of martial law, make it possible to preserve and help realize the scientific and innovative potential of researchers and innovators. The operation of the "Science and Business" platform is ensured. The launch of a digital tool for raising awareness of conducting innovative business "Online Mentor Science&Business" was ensured - a structured program with daily lectures, educational materials, and practical tasks, designed to work out a new idea and prepare it for acceleration. In addition, the implementation of the Science&Business project by the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine and the Ukrainian Startup Fund continues to establish effective interaction of all participants in the innovation process. For successful participation in the "Horizon Europe" program, the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine created the National Portal of International Cooperation. By order of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine dated October 8, 2022 No. 892, the National Plan for Open Science was approved. This plan contains a set of tasks, activities with corresponding deadlines and executors. |
| United Kingdom | Boosting research and innovation, increasing the contribution of UK universities and developing university-business collaboration are critical means to achieve the Government's ambitions, develop skills and productivity, and support the place agenda. Universities work with businesses in various ways, including through collaborative and contract research projects; providing access to facilities, equipment and science parks; spinning out companies; licensing intellectual property; and extending entrepreneurship support to students and researchers. The UK Government aims to stimulate, enhance and grow even stronger strategic collaborations between business sectors and academic disciplines and institutions. The UK Government has a variety of levers at its disposal to support research collaboration and commercialisation. Research England - part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) provides funding to universities through the Higher Education Innovation Funding (HEIF) programme. HEIF aims to support and develop a broad range of knowledge-based interactions between universities and the wider world, resulting in benefits to the economy and society. It is also implementing a Knowledge Exchange Framework (KEF) to assess the effectiveness of English universities in collaborating with business and other entities, and promoting knowledge exchange and research commercialisation. The KEF metrics were developed after detailed consultation with the higher education sector and initially tested through a pilot exercise. Since 1975, Innovate UK has supported Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs) to help businesses innovate for growth. They are unique collaborative partnerships creating positive impact and driving innovation. These cover classic KTPs which focus on developing new or better products and services, management KTPs focus on developing better businesses by enhancing processes and building management capability, and international KTP's, with specific country and sector requirements (for example recently on African Agriculture). Within the public sector, the 2021 Mackintosh report 'Getting smarter: a strategy for knowledge & innovation assets in the public sector' has led to the Rose Book as a set of guidelines and the establishment in 2022 of the Government Office for Technology Transfer to support government-funded organisations and government departments in their management of intangible assets, such as intellectual property and know-how, including their development and value creation. |
| Viet Nam | The national innovation system in Vietnam is in the process of formation. While the components and relationships among the elements in the system are being gradually refined, progress remains modest. The research and development activities within the corporate sector are relatively limited, and the capacity of enterprises to apply and absorb technology is still extremely low. There is a conspicuous lack of connection between training activities in higher education institutions, scientific research, and enterprise needs. Many science and technology tasks have not been designed with sufficiently ambitious scope or interdisciplinary impact, leading to the failure of certain science and technology programmes to meet expectations or produce truly groundbreaking products. Links between enterprises, as well as between enterprises and higher education institutions and state management agencies in the realm of technology innovation, application, transfer and development, are notably weak. Moreover, there is a lack of mechanisms to encourage the workforce of higher education institutions to participate in technological innovation, enhancement, and development activities within enterprises. |