Research Findings - The Role of Knowledge Exchange

Project Overview

This research analysed the incidence, form, effectiveness and impact of knowledge exchange activities between the business and higher education sectors in the UK. Knowledge exchange includes the full range of ways in which the business community and the higher education sector interact and which may affect business and regional economic development. These interactions include educational and training activities, research publications and patenting, conferences, contracting and consulting activity, internships, joint research and development and licensing and new business formation.

The research provides a detailed and comprehensive picture of the knowledge exchange activities of academics; how they interact with external organisations; what motivates or constrains those interactions; and how academics see the role of academia in society (Abreu et al, 2009; Tartari et al, 2012). Furthermore, it provides an understanding of the modes, motivations and impacts of knowledge exchange from the perspective of business (Bruneel et al,2010; Hughes and Kitson, 2013). Overall, UK~IRC research shows that there is wide-scale knowledge exchange in the UK and that the notion of an academic ‘ivory tower’ is a myth.

Policy and Practice Implications

The role of university-business interactions has been increasingly emphasised by policy-makers, as making important contributions to innovation and economic growth (Lambert, 2003; Sainsbury, 2007). There, has however been a false perception amongst policy makers that academic engagement with external organisations is too low. This could be because of the way engagement is currently measured and the over emphasis on technology transfer metrics, whereas knowledge exchange interactions are more varied  – often informal with less tangible short term outputs. There also needs to be recognition of the engagement of academics across all disciplines, beyond the narrow focus on science and engineering.

Topic Related Publications

• The Economic Significance of the UK Science Base
  Authors: Jonathan Haskel, Alan Hughes, Elif Bascavusoglu-Moreau

• Connecting with the Ivory Tower: Business Perspectives on Knowledge Exchange in the UK
  Authors: Alan Hughes, Michael Kitson

• Cultural Connections
  Authors: Alan Hughes, Michael Kitson, Jocelyn Probert, Royce Turner, Anna Bullock, Isobel Milner

• The Dual funding Structure for Research in the UK: Research Council and Funding Council allocation Methods and the Pathways to Impact of UK Academics
  Authors: Alan Hughes, Michael Kitson, Anna Bullock, Isobel Milner

• Growing Value Business-University Collaboration for the 21st Century Report
  Authors: David Docherty, David Eyton, Alan Hughes and Shirley Pearce

• Hidden Connections Knowledge exchange between the arts and humanities and the private, public and third sectors
  Authors: Alan Hughes, Michael Kitson and Jocelyn Probert with Anna Bullock and Isobel Milner

• The Republic of Engagement Exploring UK Academic Attitudes to Collaborating with Industry and Entrepreneurship Report
  Authors: Ammon Salter, Valentina Tartari, Pablo D’Este and Andy Neely

• Knowledge Exchange between Academics and the Business, Public and Third Sectors Report
  Authors: Maria Abreu, Vadim Grinevich, Alan Hughes and Michael Kitson

Other useful information and links in this area

• “The Race to the Top” Lord Sainsbury’s Review of Government’s Science and Innovation Policies

• UK~IRC Innovation Summit 2013 ‘The Future of  Science and Innovation Policy ‘ – included a session on University/Industry links

• Business and the Third Mission Seminar