ANECA publishes a working paper on knowledge transfer and exchange

The ANECA document “Knowledge transfer and exchange for the creation of social value. Conceptual bases and classification categories” proposes a conceptual and operational update on the transfer and exchange of knowledge between science and society. This function, recognized as strategic in European policies for the valorization of knowledge and in the recent reforms of the Science Law (2022) and the Organic Law on the University System (2023), is consolidated as an essential element for the generation of social value. In this context, the document contributes to reflection on this subject and promotes a shared understanding, all from a broad and inclusive view of the ecosystem of universities, science, and innovation.

The document was prepared between 2024 and 2025 based on an analytical and participatory process. In the first phase, led by Irene Ramos Vielba, advisory member of ANECA, internal work was carried out on reviewing the literature, the regulatory framework, and institutional practices, which made it possible to establish a conceptual basis and, based on pre-existing models, propose categories for classifying knowledge transfer and exchange activities. Subsequently, a participatory process was launched with the collaboration of various agents in the ecosystem, including universities, public research organizations, transfer offices, regional agencies, and research staff. The sessions and debates, chaired by Pilar Paneque, director of ANECA, facilitated the incorporation of contributions from different professional and disciplinary perspectives.

The resulting framework identifies the key elements that define the concept of knowledge transfer and exchange, in line with its evolution, as well as a proposed categorization that reflects the diversity of practices. Its purpose is to facilitate the identification and classification of these activities, allowing for their proper assessment as individual contributions by university faculty and research staff in the Spanish science system. The defining keys to knowledge transfer and exchange and the proposed categories in this document will serve as a reference for the evaluation programs implemented by ANECA.

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