Knowledge transfer (KT) professional: KT strategy
Context
SENTINEL Bioactive Paper Network is a former university-based research network that became a global leader in the development of bioactive paper technology. Its researchers were seeking partners with whom to commercialize their innovations. However, the Network had no supportive strategy, and was approaching the end of its funding cycle as an NSERC Strategic Network.
Objective
Devise and execute an effective CIHR-style end-of-grant KT strategy to bring in partners before the funding ran out.
Action
Action
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- Won a $100,000 NSERC Strategic Network Enhancement Initiative grant to fund KT activities.
- Drafted questions for each innovation based on Lavis's Five-point Utilization Framework and Jacobson's Understanding User Context Framework and the context of the sector to identify:
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- the IP status of each one,
- those most likely to be commercially desirable, and
- the KT strategies with the "best bang for the buck."
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- Developed a commercialization kit (demonstration video, infographic, technical manuscripts, fact sheet, figures and images, lay article, poster) for each innovation to capture varying levels of interest and accommodate different learning styles.
- Used the kits to promote the innovations at carefully-chosen trade shows and to sector-specific print and electronic media.
Impact/Benefit