Allen Alexander

Innovation: a knowledge transfer perspective

One means of innovation is the adoption of new knowledge from external sources. This article describes theory building research to improve the transfer of knowledge between universities and businesses that are collaborating together. Using pilot studies and in-depth interviews based on real-life innovation projects, the research identified and confirmed two hypothetical constructs; that successful knowledge transfer comes from the transfer of tacit knowledge; and that tacit knowledge can best be transferred in this arena using rich media channels. This article describes the research and goes on to assess a range of channels for their media richness and their ability to transfer tacit knowledge. This article then positions this in the frame of collaborative or open innovation. It concludes that selection of the appropriate channel can improve the innovation through the transfer of knowledge between organisations and presents a model for successful application.

Open for Business: Universities, Entrepreneurial Academics and Open Innovation

The emergence of open innovation theory and practice, alongside the evolution to a quadruple helix system of innovation, has led to a need for universities to rethink their models of engagement with industry and wider society. One important element in this system is the entrepreneurial academics; however, there is a lack of research considering the motivations of entrepreneurial academics, who differ from academic entrepreneurs, to engage in knowledge transfer in line with open innovation policy. This research offers practical insights on whether new models of engagement, increasingly offered by universities, really address the policy drivers for open innovation. Furthermore, this research explores whether these activities might motivate entrepreneurial academics to participate. Preliminary findings identify that many supposedly new collaboration activities do not really motivate entrepreneurial academics. This may have important implications on the ability of universities to become truly open and to encourage their academics to become engaged in collaboration and impact.

A review and comparative study of innovation policy and knowledge transfer: An Anglo-French perspective

Abstract In Europe, knowledge transfer between industry and higher education underachieves when compared directly with the United States and Japan. Europe is usually considered among the best world performers in terms of research capacity, but this potential often fails to transform into innovative products and services and the potential contribution to economic growth is lost. Despite this shortfall in knowledge transfer, academia enjoys strong industrial links across Europe and can demonstrate high numbers of enduring industrial relationships. This paper draws on research and policy literature from the UK and French channel regions to present the respective regional innovation and economic policy in an attempt to frame why this shortfall in knowledge transfer exists. Regional development is considered within a European, national and regional context. Innovation and knowledge transfer are positioned as economic development factors, and are described through the approaches and activities of the regions.

A Framework for the Transfer of Knowledge between Universities and Industry

This paper describes research to examine the process of knowledge transfer between universities and industry, where the transfer of knowledge can be a valuable source of innovation for a company, in terms of new product development (radical innovation) but also as a source of knowledge for process or product improvement (incremental innovation). The view is adopted that the most useful knowledge for industry is knowledge that leads to action, known as tacit knowledge. However, tacit knowledge is seen as the most difficult type of knowledge to transfer. The paper builds on the research in this area of strategic knowledge management and uses case-study style research to review a framework that shows how knowledge can be codified for transfer, transferred and then assimilated. The paper concludes with comments about the use of the framework and directions for future research.

Responsible Innovation in Healthcare - the case of health information TV

The paper explores the application of responsible innovation (RI) principles in the design and implementation of innovation in the context of digitally-enabled healthcare. In particular, we are interested in the scope for bringing in RI considerations at various stages in the innovation process and in the relevant tools and frameworks which might facilitate this. Using the particular example of a detailed longitudinal case of the development and diffusion (with subsequent modification and “re-innovation”) of a digital health information platform, we identify a number of key points at which the innovation concept “pivoted” to reflect new information, some of which resulted from a wider level of inclusion (one of the core RI principles). The paper explores the role played by structured frameworks (such as the “Business Model Canvas”) in the development of other digital healthcare innovations at an early stage.