Knowledge Transfer
- Anderson Barbosa
- May 27
- 6 min read
Knowledge Transfer as a Boost to Economic Competitiveness
The IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook (WCY), through indicator 3.2.5, assesses the level of development of knowledge transfer between companies and universities. This transfer is a fundamental catalyst for innovation and, consequently, for the competitiveness of an economy.
Without knowledge transfer, academic research remains confined to the university walls, without generating practical applications in the real world and, therefore, without creating economic and social value. The ability to transform scientific discoveries into innovative products, services and processes is essential for the growth and development of a country.
Knowledge transfer can occur in many different ways, with different structures and levels of formality. However, one thing they all have in common is that it rarely happens spontaneously. An active and coordinated effort is needed to promote and nurture this interaction between academia and the private sector.
An effective example is the encouragement of academic entrepreneurship, which can be boosted through incubators and junior companies:
Incubators offer a structured environment with business management training, access to university resources, seed funding, support in applying for patents and the creation of strategic alliances with companies.
Junior companies, with a strong presence and quality in Europe, represent another important route for knowledge transfer, offering consultancy services and project development carried out by students, under the supervision of professors and with the aim of applying academic knowledge to real market challenges.
Both approaches, incubators and junior companies, play a crucial role in connecting academia and the productive sector, fostering innovation and economic development.
In this context, according to IMD data and analysis, Switzerland stands out as a leader, driven by the strong ties between its renowned technical universities and industry, the support of agencies and the ease of starting a business. However, Switzerland, like many European economies, faces challenges in accessing venture capital and other forms of start-up financing.
Furthermore, according to data and analysis from IMD, the United States, on the other hand, has the most developed venture capital market in the world, but the relationship between universities and companies tends to be more transactional, with less focus on long-term partnerships and collaborative research projects.
In short, knowledge transfer is essential to:
Transforming academic research into applied innovation.
Increase the competitiveness of companies and the economy as a whole.
Generate economic and social value from knowledge produced at universities.
Create a dynamic and collaborative innovation ecosystem.
Analysis of Knowledge Transfer in Portugal
Analyzing the IMD 2024 - Portugal report, Portugal's position in the "Knowledge Transfer" category (48th place out of 67 economies) reveals a significant challenge for the country's competitiveness. This result suggests that, despite efforts, the connection between academia and the private sector in Portugal is not yet optimized, impacting the ability to transform research and development (R&D) into applied innovation and economic value.
Possible Causes
Low integration between universities and companies: The ranking position indicates that collaboration between higher education institutions and the productive sector may be limited. This may be the result of cultural barriers, lack of adequate incentives or bureaucratic difficulties that hinder the creation of joint projects and the transfer of technologies and knowledge.
Lack of support mechanisms: The absence of effective support structures and programs for knowledge transfer can be a barrier. This includes the lack of incubators and accelerators focused on academic projects, difficulties in accessing financing for university startups, and the lack of tax incentives for companies that invest in R&D in partnership with universities.
Bureaucracy and regulation: Complex bureaucratic processes and excessive regulation can make it difficult to create spin-off companies from universities and protect intellectual property, discouraging the commercialization of research results.
Limited focus on strategic areas: Knowledge transfer may not be aligned with the country’s strategic priorities, resulting in scattered investments and a lack of focus on areas with the greatest potential for economic impact.
Recommendations
Based on the IMD 2024 - Portugal report, it is crucial that Portuguese companies take a proactive role in promoting the transfer of knowledge from academia to the productive sector.
The following recommendations aim to guide companies on alternatives to boost innovation and increase their competitiveness through strategic partnerships with universities and research centers:
Strengthening university-business collaboration:
Encourage the creation of joint research projects between universities and companies, offering funding and technical support.
Promote the mobility of researchers between academia and the private sector, facilitating the exchange of knowledge and experience.
Create meeting and networking platforms between universities and companies, to identify opportunities for collaboration and strategic partnerships.
Investing in Collaborative Research and Development (R&D):
Strategic Partnerships: Establish long-term partnerships with universities and research centers, defining areas of mutual interest and investing in collaborative R&D projects.
Direct Financing: Allocate a portion of the budget to finance research projects at universities, focusing on areas relevant to your business and the Portuguese economy.
Business Chairs: Create business chairs at universities, financing research and teaching in specific areas, and ensuring alignment with market needs.
Strategic Partnerships with Incubators:
Mentoring and Advice: Established companies can offer mentoring and strategic advice to incubated startups, sharing knowledge and experience in areas such as management, marketing, sales and finance.
Access to Resources: Companies can provide access to resources such as office space, equipment, software and networks to incubated startups, accelerating their development and growth.
Investment in Startups: Companies can invest in incubated startups, whether through venture capital, loans or other forms of financing, driving innovation and the creation of new businesses.
Acceleration Programs: Companies can create acceleration programs for incubated startups, offering intensive training, mentoring and access to investors, accelerating their growth and preparing them for the market.
Collaboration with Junior Companies:
Consulting Projects: Companies can hire junior companies to carry out consulting projects in areas such as marketing, finance, human resources and technology, obtaining innovative and affordable solutions.
Software and Application Development: Companies can hire junior companies to develop software, applications and other technological solutions, taking advantage of the talent and creativity of students.
Market Research: Companies can hire junior companies to conduct market research, obtaining valuable information about consumer behavior, market trends and competition.
Talent Recruitment: Companies can use junior companies as a talent recruitment channel, identifying and hiring students with the potential to become future leaders and innovators.
Promote Talent Mobility:
Internships and Trainee Programs: Offer internships and trainee programs for students and recent graduates in areas of interest, providing practical experience and the opportunity to apply academic knowledge in a business environment.
Exchange of Researchers: Facilitate the exchange of researchers between companies and universities, promoting the exchange of knowledge and experience.
Specialized Consulting: Hire consultants with academic experience to assist in solving technical problems and implementing new technologies.
Encourage Open Innovation:
Innovation Challenges: Launch innovation challenges to the academic community, seeking creative solutions to specific problems faced by companies.
Collaboration Platforms: Participate in online collaboration platforms, connecting with researchers and companies to exchange ideas and develop joint projects.
Hackathons and Competitions: Organize Hackathons and competitions to stimulate creativity and innovation, involving students, researchers and industry professionals.
Support Intellectual Property:
Patents: Encourage the protection of intellectual property by registering patents for technologies developed in partnership with universities.
Confidentiality Agreements: Enter into confidentiality agreements with universities and researchers, protecting confidential information and ensuring the security of R&D projects.
Intellectual Property Management: Develop an intellectual property management strategy, defining policies and procedures to protect and commercialize innovative technologies.
Summary of recommendations:
Invest in collaborative R&D with universities.
Establish strategic partnerships with incubators, offering mentoring, resources and investment.
Collaborate with junior companies, hiring consultancy and project development services.
Promote talent mobility between companies and universities.
Encourage open innovation, seeking solutions in the academic community.
Support the protection and management of intellectual property.
Take advantage of tax and financial incentives offered by the government to support entrepreneurship and innovation.
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