Bridging Research and Society: Knowledge Valorisation Tour of Capitales Event in Zagreb

Mark your calendars for the “Awareness raising campaign on Knowledge Valorisation” event organised by the European Commision, Ministry of Science and Education and the World Bank on June 4, 2024, at Hotel Zonar in Zagreb. This event is a part of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Research & Innovation (DGRTD) Awareness Raising Campaign on Knowledge Valorisation. The event aims to highlight the importance of transforming research and innovation (R&I) results into societal and economic benefits.

What is a Tour of Capitales?

One of the key components of the Awareness Raising Campaign is the "Tour of Capitales," a series of national events co-designed with Member States to engage local R&I ecosystems. This initiative aims to disseminate the latest policy developments and demonstrate how research and innovation (R&I) results can be transformed into societal and economic benefits. Starting in spring 2023 and continuing through 2024, this campaign is structured as an inclusive dialogue with stakeholders across Europe.

On June 4, 2024, we are excited to bring this dialogue to Zagreb. The event, divided into morning plenary and afternoon parallel sessions, will focus on enhancing skills and fostering collaboration for effective research and knowledge valorisation. The conference will open with remarks by the Dr. Hrvoje Meštrić, Director-General for Science and Technology, Ministry of Science and Education, setting the tone for the day's discussions. This will be followed by a series of presentations about “Building the national technology and knowledge transfer ecosystem,” “Business perspective on knowledge valorisation” and “Mission possible: Linking science with business in Croatia.” A policy debate will follow, addressing the challenges and opportunities in aligning national policies with the goals of knowledge valorisation.

In the afternoon, the conference will split into two parallel sessions, each focusing on critical aspects of knowledge valorisation.

European IP Helpdesk Support to the Event: Skills and Capacity for Knowledge Valorisation Session

This session aims at exploring the critical intersection of knowledge valorisation and intellectual asset management. Moreover, the new approach to knowledge valorisation will be presented, emphasising a balance between economic and societal value paths as outlined in the Code of Practice on the management of intellectual assets for knowledge valorisation. The session will be moderated by Smiljka Vikić-Topić, European IP Helpdesk Senior IP & Innovation Advisor and RISE's Head of Office.The session will begin with an introduction of Code of practice by Florentina Golisteanu, Legal and Policy Officer at the Unit Knowledge Valorisation and IPR Policies within DG Research and Innovation. Following this, Johan Moyersoen, General Manager of the Impact Licensing Initiative, will present “Unlocking Potential: Leveraging Hybrid Impact Licensing for Economic and Societal Valorisation in Research and Technology.” This presentation will highlight the use of hybrid impact licensing as a tool for implementing social licensing practices across companies and universities, supported by practical examples of ethical, socially responsible, and impact licensing strategies.

Michele Dubbini, IP and Innovation Advisor at the European IP Helpdesk, will then demonstrate the Helpdesk's crucial role in supporting the implementation of the Code, showcasing their contributions and services designed to maximise the value of intellectual assets.

There will also be a panel discussion that will focus on the capacities of Technology Transfer Offices (TTOs) and other intermediaries in EU13 countries. The discussion will delve into how these entities can improve researcher participation in the knowledge valorisation process and how public research organisations can strengthen their technology transfer and knowledge valorisation offices. This segment will also consider the broader impact of the Code on all intellectual assets, beyond just technology transfer. Insights will be provided by Dr. Špela Stres, director of the Slovenian Research and Innovation Agency and member of the Board of EIC, and Krystian Gurba, Deputy Director at the Centre for Technology Transfer CITTRU at the Jagiellonian University in Kraków, Poland, who will highlight best practices and opportunities for cross-learning.

Who should attend and how can you benefit from it?

Participation of all actors within the research and innovation ecosystem is welcomed, including: researchers, students, innovators and entrepreneurs, Horizon funds beneficiaries, management of research and higher education institutions, standard development organizations, intellectual assets management professionals, and the industry and business representatives, as well as civil society associations and citizens, local and regional administrations, and policy makers.

By involving a diverse array of stakeholders, knowledge valorisation ensures that research outcomes are effectively translated into real-world applications that address societal needs.

This collaborative approach facilitates the cross-fertilisation of knowledge through academia-industry partnerships, the formation of spin-offs and start-ups, the work of intermediaries and knowledge transfer professionals, and the engagement of citizens and local communities. Effective management of intellectual assets, standardisation, knowledge dissemination, and policy uptake further enhance the societal benefits of research and innovation.

Attendees will have the opportunity to explore Croatia's national ecosystem of technology and knowledge transfer, showcasing practical examples of success. Event will also provide an opportunity to network with the peers from the Croatian research and innovation ecosystem but also a number of experts from the EU 13 countries that will share their experiences and best practices when it comes to the intellectual assets management and industry-academia collaboration.

Join Us in Zagreb!

We invite you to join us at Hotel Zonar in Zagreb on June 4, 2024!

To register for the event, please click here. More information about the conference programme is here.

Don’t miss this opportunity to engage with experts, share knowledge, and explore innovative strategies for knowledge valorisation.