Enhancing Knowledge Transfer in Public Universities: A Gateway to Collaboration in Western Balkans Six
The Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) launched an exciting initiative to bolster the collaboration between public universities in the Western Balkans Six (WB6) and the business community.
Toolkit for Knowledge Transfer at Public Universities in the Western Balkans Six technical assistance aims to develop a comprehensive toolkit to facilitate productive engagements and mutual benefit between academia and industry in the region.
Objectives
The core objective of this assignment is to create a robust toolkit that will support knowledge transfer activities among public universities in the WB6 and their business counterparts.
This toolkit is designed to empower universities and industry partners to collaborate seamlessly, leveraging each other’s strengths for mutual benefits.
The toolkit will provide a structured framework for universities to engage with industry partners, facilitating the transfer of research results, discoveries, and technologies.
The toolkit will encompass conceptual tools, practical examples, and resources aimed at helping researchers, students, and staff engage effectively in knowledge exchange and achieve economic impact.
To ensure the toolkit's practical value, the focus will be on common regional priority fields identified in the Smart Specialisation Strategies (S3) that are currently under implementation, revision, or in final preparatory stages in the region.
Specific Tasks
This initiative will focus on identifying and adapting successful models of university-industry collaboration, particularly those from similar Eastern European contexts, for use within the Western Balkans. By tailoring these models to fit the regional context, the RCC aims to enhance the collaborative potential between universities and industry partners.
In addition, RCC will organise two online regional training sessions aimed at promoting promising funding opportunities. These sessions will also assist public universities in preparing project proposals focused on knowledge transfer, thereby equipping them with the necessary tools and knowledge to secure support for their initiatives.
Moreover, the initiative will facilitate the sharing of resources and best practices across the WB6 university community and with external business partners. By doing so, RCC aims to foster a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement. Alongside this, a set of recommendations will be prepared to encourage new regional initiatives that further promote knowledge transfer in the future.
A team of seasoned experts from across Europe, led by the University of Warsaw and guided by the RCC, will collaborate closely with universities and businesses throughout the year.