Participation and debate at the Meeting on Knowledge Transfer and Exchange organized by ANECA at the UIMP

The meeting “Knowledge Transfer and Exchange for the Creation of Social Value,” organized by the National Agency for Quality Assessment and Accreditation (ANECA) as part of the summer courses at the Menéndez Pelayo International University (UIMP) in Santander, has concluded after three days marked by high participation and enriching institutional and academic debate.

The course was attended by 75 participants from universities, public research bodies, and other entities in the science and innovation ecosystem. Its objective was to promote joint reflection on the context, concept, and scope of knowledge transfer and exchange aimed at creating social value, from both an analytical and practical perspective. The first day addressed public policies supporting knowledge transfer in Europe and Spain, as well as possible strategies for recognizing and incentivizing diverse practices that take place in different organizational and territorial contexts.

The second day delved into the heterogeneity of this activity from a threefold approach: institutional, conceptual, and social. Izaskun Lacunza (FECYT) opened the session by highlighting the role of institutions in promoting transfer, with special relevance for public policies. Irene Ramos (ANECA) then presented the work carried out by the Agency over the last year on the concept and classification of knowledge transfer and exchange activities, enriched by contributions from key entities and actors in the ecosystem in previous debate sessions and working groups.

The conference also included two further presentations, focusing on the responsible exercise of scientific activity, innovation, and transfer, given by Paula Otero (INGENIO, CSIC-UPV), and on the analysis of gender bias in transfer processes based on evidence from the GENKAT research project, presented by Olga Salido (UCM). The final round table, moderated by Susana Quicios (ANECA), brought together leading experts such as Josep Lobera (ONAC), Antonio Molina (Alianza SOMMa), and Maite Pelacho (Fundación Ibercivis), who discussed the diversity of practices in the field of transfer.

On the third day, the focus was on evaluation methodologies and techniques. María Blanco (European University Association) addressed the reform of research evaluation within the framework of CoARA and its application in Spain, while Nicolás Robinson (University of Granada) presented a pilot experiment on narrative evaluation combined with quantitative metrics.

To conclude, a collaborative working dynamic was developed in which participants and speakers, based on a simulation of a transfer activity evaluation, discussed potential evaluation criteria and their applicability according to the type of practice.

Pilar Paneque, director of ANECA, closed the meeting by highlighting the challenges involved in moving towards a new model for evaluating knowledge transfer and exchange activities, one that not only promotes such activities but also ensures their relevance and quality. She also stressed the need for a collective commitment on the part of agencies, universities, and public research bodies to promote transfer that creates social value.