Cambridge Centre for Business Research Survey of Knowledge Exchange Activity by United Kingdom Academics, 2005-2009

Abstract copyright UK Data Service and data collection copyright owner.The objective of this research was to identify the factors that affect the incidence, form, effectiveness and regional impact of knowledge exchange activities between higher education institutions and private, public and third sectors in the UK. It has identified the different forms of knowledge exchange and the ways that these interactions vary across different geographical domains. The research showed that, although there is significant interaction between the science base and business, there is also significant 'hidden' knowledge exchange from a range of other academic disciplines - and it is not just about 'technology transfer' but a broader process that is best encapsulated as 'knowledge exchange'. The research also showed that there are significant interactions between academia and the public and third sectors. This research adopted a multi-method approach including case studies and two national surveys: a survey of academics, which generated more than 22,000 responses (available here), and a survey of businesses, which generated more than 2,500 responses (available under SN 6464). The case study material is not available, for reasons of preserving the anonymity and confidentiality of individual companies and academics. Further information about the project is available from the ESRC University-Industry Knowledge Exchange: Demand Pull, Supply Push and the Public Space Role of Higher Education Institutions award web page. Main Topics:The survey looks at interactions between academics and other sectors, and specifically covers the following areas:the activities of academicshow academics are interacting with external organisationswhat motivates or constrains interactionshow academics see the role of academia in society