Exploring 'transnational' university cooperation in knowledge transfer A European perspective

The dissemination and transfer of knowledge are an important source of value-added in research activities, and the transfer of new knowledge to society is now seen as a key responsibility of universities. Transnational research cooperation is pivotal to European research funding and, with this in mind, the authors examine the state of cooperation among European universities in knowledge transfer activities. They identify the key modes of academic knowledge transfer as patenting and licensing; spin-offs and enterprise creation; university-industry networks; and continuous professional development. From their study it appears that, although universities wish to increase the extent of cooperation, structural cooperation in knowledge transfer does not seem to be the ambition of many universities. The study thus confirms that knowledge transfer in Europe remains largely a regional and national affair.