Study Visit

A total of 28 representatives from the UNI4INNO partner institutions, including top management staff from 6 Ukrainian Universities, top delegates from the Kiev Chamber of Commerce and from the Ukrainian Institute for Innovation Technologies, and representatives from EU project partners (University of Bologna, Chalmers University and World University Service) visited the University of Alicante (UA) between 31 May-June 2, 2010.

The objective of the study visit was to provide successful models of university innovation support services and policies. Staff members from the UA Technology Transfer Office, Innovation Unit, Entrepreneurship and Employment Services and IPR Helpdesk presented the UA internal organization, norms, procedures, and services supporting the transfer of research results produced within the university to the society, and the management and exploitation of the associated intellectual property rights. A real life example of successful university-industry cooperation of the UA Chemical Engineering Department (resulting in the creation of a Spin-off) was presented. EU partners also offered useful information on alternative European models and structures for innovation support and knowledge transfer.

Additionally, the project Technical Coordinator explained the preliminary results of the In-Depth Needs Analysis carried out by the consortium, and each Ukrainian University showed the findings from their self-assessment on the state of their institutional innovation support services. The visit concluded with several presentations on project’s next activities, extranet service and administrative and financial issues.
More information on the meeting and study visit can be found in the meeting agenda and presentations available for download.