Knowledge Transfer Offices: key to innovation and social growth
Las Oficinas de Transferencia de Conocimiento (denominadas OTC y anteriormente conocidas como OTRI) juegan un papel fundamental en la conexión entre quienes generan conocimiento y el sector productivo. Esta relación es esencial para fomentar la innovación, el desarrollo y la puesta en valor del conocimiento, contribuyendo así al bienestar social del país.
But what exactly is a Knowledge Transfer Office? KTOs are entities dedicated to identifying research results, protecting them legally and supporting their commercialization. This is achieved through exploitation licenses, collaborations between public and private companies, and the contracting of R&D&I services, among others. In some cases, TTOs even participate in the creation of knowledge-based companies.
The new Royal Decree and its impact on the OTCs
Recently, the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities (MICIU) has promoted the creation of a new regulatory framework, through a Royal Decreeto strengthen the role of TTOs in the science and innovation system. This decree marks an important change compared to the previous registry of Research Results Transfer Offices (OTRI). Now, TTOs are officially recognized through an evaluation and registration process.
To date, 111 entities have been accredited as TCOs by the MICIU, out of a total of 127 applications. In the following link you will be able to access the OTC registry which, by the way, is still open awaiting new applications.
Diversity of registered entities
As an example of what types of entities can acquire the legal status of TTOs, the Registry of Knowledge Transfer Offices includes a wide variety, including:
- 55 universities.
- 26 technology and innovation support centers.
- 11 health entities.
- 7 regional R&D organizations.
- 5 state R&D agencies.
- 7 entities of other types.
The plurality of these organizations demonstrates the diversity and scope with which knowledge transfer is deployed in Spain.
Fuente: Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnología, artículo “Agentes del Sistema Español de Ciencia-Tecnología-Empresa”
For illustrative purposes, we have rescued the following scheme developed by the Ministry of Science and Technology, which crystallizes the diversity of entities that participate in the creation, dissemination and transformation of knowledge.
Enhancing knowledge transfer
Las OTC surgen con el objetivo de generar una fuerza centrífuga que atraiga el conocimiento y, a su vez, una fuerza centrípeta que lo transforme y distribuya en forma de productos. Para lograr un impacto significativo en el Sistema Español de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación ( SECTI), se han identificado tres aspectos clave:
- Professionalization of the human resources of the CTOs.
- Collaboration between the different entities and other SECTI agents.
- Internationalization of transfer activities, in order to project Spanish knowledge beyond its borders.
A step into the future
The creation of the Register of Knowledge Transfer Offices not only recognizes the work of entities recognized as CTOs, but also facilitates the design of more effective public policies. By having up-to-date data, it will be possible to promote measures to strengthen knowledge transfer in Spain and, thus, foster innovation, economic growth and social welfare.
In short, TCOs are the bridge between knowledge and society, and their strengthening is key to the country’s future.
