Welcome Communicating Research 1 contents ZOOM ➲ Understanding the Knowledge Transfer Opportunities Next Using this publication This publication is structured as an A5-landscape (sideways) publication so you can scroll through it sequentially from page to page using the normal scroll bars and arrow keys. However, it has additional navigation options to make it easy to use on screen. The tips shown below assume that you are using Adobe Reader; other viewers have similar options but their location is likely to vary. On the View menu, choose Page Display > Continuous to view pages in a vertical column, one page wide. You can also use CTRL+L (Windows) or CMD+L (Macintosh) to view in Full Screen mode – menu bars, etc., are hidden. Press the Esc key to exit (or CTRL/CMD+L again). 1 1.Adobe Reader navigation options. 2.Click the Bookmarks icon in left navigation pane (or select View > Navigation Panels > Bookmarks), to open a clickable index of publication contents. Entries in the Index (page 4) are clickable, to allow you to jump direct to specific pages. 2 2 contents ➲ ➲ 3 3.Additional page navigation for full-screen viewing. From left to right: Fullscreen zoom switch; link to contents page; next and previous page arrows. Arising from the Innovation Taskforce Report (March, 2010), it was decided to develop this booklet to illuminate your knowledge transfer journey. You are on a pathway of discovery and you will make significant contributions to new knowledge and develop insights in your chosen research area; it is your responsibility to share this knowledge. Each of the routes of knowledge transfer is important and valued. Most of you will communicate your research findings through conferences and publications, through teaching and mentoring and some of you will develop ideas which can be exploited and commercialised. In developing this booklet, we want to ensure that at the beginning of your journey you are aware of all the possibilities and the supports that exist within NUI Galway for knowledge transfer. Progressing from the idea for the development of this booklet to the final product required deep insights, research, brainstorming, considerable energy, and determination. The authors, Niamh Corcoran, Maebh Coleman and Michelle Bradley from the Technology Transfer Office, NUI Galway embody these skills and attributes and all credit for this publication lies with them. Welcome I hope that you find and use the resources outlined in this booklet and I wish you every success on your research and the generation and sharing of knowledge. Dr Pat Morgan, Dean of Graduate Studies October, 2010 This initiative has been funded by the HEA under the Strategic Innovation Fund 1. contents ➲ ➲ Welcome Welcome 3 Welcome . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Table of Contents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Introduction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Effective Channels for Knowledge Transfer . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 The Knowledge Transfer Journey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Knowledge Transfer Word Cloud. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Knowledge Dissemination. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Conference Attendance & Presentations. . . . . . . . . . . 10 Teaching. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Publishing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Knowledge Relationships. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Academic Community. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Industry and Social Involvement. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Knowledge Engagements. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Community/Civic Engagement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Placement. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Knowledge Commercialisation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 NUI Galway Commercialisation Process. . . . . . . . . . . 21 Technology Transfer Process . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Glossary of Terms. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 contents ➲ ➲ COntents Welcome 44 Table of Contents Sharing knowledge will be a significant activity throughout your PhD journey. Not only will this help you to prepare for your viva and achieve the award of PhD, it will also help you gain key skills to use in your career in academia, industry or public service. To be awarded your PhD, you must demonstrate that you have met the following criteria: • made a significant contribution to understanding and knowledge in your chosen area • completed work that is suitable for publication in whole or in part • displayed an appropriate depth and breadth of knowledge and understanding of your relevant field(s) of study • gained significant expertise with respect to basic and advanced methodologies and techniques. This booklet aims to help you decide how best to achieve this as you work towards your PhD. contents ➲ ➲ As a research student, you have a vital role to play in the university community. You will be uncovering new knowledge and information, discovering new ways of seeing the world, new ways of doing things and perhaps even creating new products and services. introduction Introduction It is im po rt an t th at yo u ta ke pa rt in th e kn ow le dge step s appl ic able to yo ur PhD e re se arch an d be awar of th e caut io na ry po in ts al ong th e way 5 KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER channels Welcome Effective Channels for Knowledge Transfer There are several steps in your knowledge transfer journey. All research students are involved in: • knowledge dissemination • knowledge relationships • knowledge engagements Although not a necessity for your PhD qualification, some research students in specific areas will aim to develop their ideas into new technologies and potential products through: • knowledge commercialisation These four channels will be further explored in this booklet. Some well-proven methods will be demonstrated to help you on your knowledge transfer journey. 6 contents ➲ ➲ Remember as you transfer your knowledge to the wider communities, you will in return receive feedback. Whilst positive feedback is very encouraging, don’t become disillusioned with negative feedback. It will make your research stronger. Every PhD project and each PhD student is unique. In this booklet we use the analogy of ‘Snakes and Ladders’ as a way of demonstrating how knowledge transfer activities can help and enhance your PhD journey. The ladders are various opportunities along the way to encourage, explore and support the transfer of your knowledge to academia, industry and the public. The snakes represent issues or concerns to watch out for as the knowledge is transferred along your PhD journey. As you climb the ladders and take heed of the snakes, you will have gained the invaluable skills necessary to excel at your research and indeed your viva as well as helping you to progress your career. Completed PhD and Life Competencies 100 99 98 97 96 95 94 93 92 91 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 80 79 78 77 76 75 74 73 72 71 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 60 59 58 57 56 55 54 53 52 51 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 40 39 38 37 36 35 34 33 32 31 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER JOURNEY The Knowledge Transfer Journey contents ➲ ➲ Start PhD 7 contents ➲ ➲ Knowledge transfer word cloud Welcome 8 Knowledge Transfer Word Cloud What is Knowledge Dissemination? Knowledge dissemination is the sharing of the knowledge generated during your PhD to academia and the wider community through the media of graduates, publications, conferences and seminars. Below are some well proven ways to disseminate your knowledge throughout your PhD journey and they are essential components that must be completed (in some form) before you gain your PhD degree qualification. There are many resources available in NUI Galway to help you in the area of knowledge dissemination such as: contents ➲ ➲ • Research methods in Literature Review (Epigeum course on Blackboard: 1GST1 Graduate Studies Training) • Getting published in the Arts (Epigeum course on Blackboard: 1GST1 Graduate Studies Training) • Getting published in the Sciences (Epigeum course on Blackboard: 1GST1 Graduate Studies Training) • Intellectual Property in the Research Context (Epigeum course on Blackboard: 1GST1 Graduate Studies Training) • Selecting a Conference, Presenting & Networking (Epigeum course on Blackboard: 1GST1 Graduate Studies Training) • Writing for Publication (video on Blackboard: 1GST1 Graduate Studies Training) • Poster Design (online module on www.nuigalway.ie/remedi/poster/index.html ) • Graduate Information Literacy (online module on www.informationliteracy.ie ) • For publishing in Science, Technology, Engineering & Medicine – rosarie.coughlan@nuigalway.ie • For publishing in Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences – gwen.ryan@nuigalway.ie Knowledge Dissemination Knowledge Dissemination 9 KNOWLEDGE DISSEMINATION Welcome Conference Attendance & Presentations How Can I Do This? • Be prepared for verbal presentations both formally and ad-hoc • If presenting a poster, make sure it has maximum impact • Host or participate in round-table discussions • Check out the internal courses and structure there to support you e.g., internal presentation skills course Steps To Progress 10 contents ➲ ➲ • Start off presenting to your own research group • Build up confidence by presenting to your discipline • Try poster presentations before oral presentations • Ask questions at conferences • Engage in conversation with experts • Get involved in student-led research conferences Know who is in the room and don’t be afraid to introduce yourself to new people What are the Benefits for Me? • Get exposure to different dissemination styles and determine the best channel for you • Observe how others react and respond to questions • Learn to ask clear and concise questions • Gain confidence to engage in discussions • Justify, defend and clarify your thinking • Reflect critically on your work • Get to know work in your field and what new ideas you have • Establish networks • Build skills for your viva How Can I Do This? • Reflect on your own student days and think about what you enjoyed most • Make your teaching engaging and informative - read the teaching booklet “In at the Deep End – Starting to Teach in Higher Education” developed by NUI Galway, UCC and TCD • Embed practical examples into existing teaching modules and student exercises/assessments • Encourage use of your research as a building block for future learning Be sure to continuously update your teaching modules with your research results What Are The Benefits For Me? • Speak about real facts – your own effective examples and experiences • Empower students with latest research findings and up-to-date module content • Gain experience for career in academia • Gain experience for training in industry KNOWLEDGE DISSEMINATION Teaching Steps To Progress contents ➲ ➲ • Organise Tutorials • Use Web-based tools • Attend and organise information sessions • Sow seeds for good research in your students • Incorporate findings into teaching and defining new creative methods to do this 11 How Can I Do This? • Why publish - Ask yourself if you have “something new to say” that adds to the existing body of knowledge in your research area • What to publish – can you publish your PhD research as an article or your doctoral literature review as a review article? • Gain practical experience of the publication process by volunteering to write book reviews • Where to publish –talk to your supervisor, look at reference lists and identify applicable journals • Develop a publications portfolio by publishing early and often • Maximise the exposure and impact of your research via Open Access publishing • Publish a version of your research in the University’s institutional repository, ARAN www.aran.library.nuigalway.ie contents ➲ ➲ Knowledge Dissemination Welcome 12 Publishing Steps To Progress • Decide where to publish • Follow the rules for Writing for Publication • Structure articles with search engines in mind • Avoid unnecessarily flowery language • Rules for preparing your manuscript – follow them to the “t” • Undergo review and approval of publication from your peers • Ensure your publication is counted • Authors rights - Retain the rights that serve your needs • After publication, set up RSS feeds to track papers that cite your work • Keep up to date on funding and grants available What are the Benefits for Me? contents ➲ ➲ • Communication of knowledge within your research community • Dissemination of knowledge • Opportunity to secure funding is enhanced • Ability to compete seriously in the Academic job market, as a publication record is the main criterion sought for jobs and promotion in research and academia • Securing grant money, which is vital to continue research and publications Knowledge Dissemination Ensure your publications have the maximum impact on the intended audience 13 KNOWLEDGE RELATIONSHIPS Knowledge Relationships What are Knowledge Relationships? Knowledge relationships are forged by strategic alliances and collaborations with academic, industrial and social partners. These are driven at the institutional level and have many benefits for you as a researcher. Through existing Knowledge Relationships and the array of strategic alliances with internal academics and other external partners, NUI Galway researchers can influence community development and public policy. www.whatis.techtarget.com/definition/0,,sid9_gci932596,00.html Therefore, forming strong relationships is imperative in transferring your knowledge during your PhD journey. There will always be someone who knows someone who knows someone who will benefit from or help you with your research. Establish professionalism in your relationships and remember first impressions last! Examples of these relationships can be described in the following pages. Six degrees of separation is the theory that anyone on the planet can be connected to any other person on the planet through a chain of acquaintances that has no more than five intermediaries. 14 contents ➲ ➲ Image © 2007 Laurens van Lieshout reproduced under GNU licence How Can I Do This? • Talk to people – start with your supervisor, personal contacts, Graduate Research Committee • Keep abreast of all the events taking place in your research field • Use existing contacts at NUI Galway and in other higher education institutes both nationally and internationally • Offer introductions and ask people for introductions to build your network • Join the post-graduate research society • Get feedback, review and integrate this into your research path and direction (if it makes sense) Steps To Progress 15 contents ➲ ➲ • Talk to academics interested in what you do and say • Introduce yourself to people you don’t know yet but need to know now! • Keep the contacts going with the academics you already know • Check out the strategic relationships NUI Galway already has nationally and internationally. Some examples include University of Limerick, GeorgiaTech, University of California, Mayo Clinic, Makerere University, Uganda and University of Malawi Be sure to embrace the academic community internally and externally and remember first impressions count! KNOWLEDGE RELATIONSHIPS Academic Community What Are The Benefits For Me? • You are now ‘on the scene’ • Increase knowledge transfer both ways as more people participate in your academic circle • Gain external exposure for your research • Close the loop: send information out → get feedback from your academic contacts • Expand your contacts for the future if you decide to pursue a career in the academic community • Gain exposure to different people and cultures 15 KNOWLEDGE RELATIONSHIPS Industry and Social Involvement How Can I Do This? • Discuss your thoughts with your supervisor and Graduate Research Committee • Prepare a brief – present the unique aspects of your research • Form relationships with the most relevant stakeholders, their input can be of immense value • Use existing NUI Galway strategic relationships e.g. Druid Theatre, patent searches, literature and web to identify your industry and social experts • Make the contact – use conferences, your supervisor, LinkedIn, academics, cold call and email friends and contacts • Get feedback, review and integrate this into your research path and direction (if it makes sense) Steps To Progress 16 contents ➲ ➲ • Become a Mentor to industry/community • Organise Focus groups consisting of experts • Be sure to get Industry input and their thoughts • Keep in touch regularly; join groups, online forums and more • Update or start a LinkedIn profile to keep in touch with professional contacts After your hard effort in finding the right contacts, keep in touch with them regularly What Are The Benefits For Me? • Gain research feedback • Become aware of real life situations • Apply knowledge to real life situations • Make contacts for the future - when your PhD is completed • Communicate your ideas – invaluable for you, your research and viva • Improve ability to talk about your research • Gain a sense of community • Grow your external industry and social contacts beyond your immediate peer group What are Knowledge Engagements? Knowledge engagements are the twoway interactions between the university and society to the mutual benefit of both. Research students work together with civic and industrial partners to achieve benefits and defined outcomes. At NUI Galway, the major strands of this activity are civic engagement (volunteering and service learning) and placement (participation with key partners, both industrial and social). KNOWLEDGE ENGAGEMENTs Knowledge Engagements contents ➲ ➲ The next few pages will outline some, but not all, avenues of engagement that will be of use to you throughout your PhD journey. Be sure to explore other new avenues and share these with your peers. 17 KNOWLEDGE ENGAGEMENTs Community/Civic Engagement How Can I Do This? • Need to determine the value of your research/ social benefit in community (online search, talk to others) • Identify community groups that have interest in your research • Contact the Community Knowledge Initiative (CKI) in NUI Galway at www.nuigalwaycki.ie • Be prepared to get your hands dirty • Keep in touch – build contacts, networks • Talk internally about your research Steps To Progress 18 contents ➲ ➲ • Attend public engagements • Get involved in debates – public/online • Develop summer camps for local communities • Service industry • Involvement in workshops and exhibitions Be sure to protect your idea/research before talking externally What Are The Benefits For Me? • Attend public engagements • Share knowledge • See your expertise used for social benefit • Build up networks • Increase communication and presentation skills • Become able to communicate ideas and skills effectively • Support the community • Gain experience content for your CV • Increase personal satisfaction • Apply research/knowledge externally • Have an impact on your research and feedback to your teaching • Get an ethical stamp of approval for your research • Makes your knowledge accessible to communities How Can I Do This? • As part of your structured PhD, you may enrol in modules that provide an industry placement • You may be aware of a company or organisation you admire in the government or industry sectors where you can make a contribution and share your research knowledge Steps To Progress contents ➲ ➲ • Enrol in modules that enable an industrial placement • Be professional and punctual, present yourself well and take pride in doing your best • Keep in touch with your co-workers once the placement is over – send a letter of thanks to your boss • Provide a professional report to your placement company and supervisor upon your return Keep those industry contacts safe for a rainy day – they could prove invaluable What Are The Benefits For Me? • Professional experience in a structured industry environment provides depth and breadth of learning • Develop and hone your business and communication skills • Gain a greater understanding of how your research fits with the wider world • On return from placement ask yourself how this experience will help to focus your research. • Gain key contacts to feed your network of allies going forward in your career • Use the placement as a testing platform to ensure your ideas are right • Strengthens your research KNOWLEDGE ENGAGEMENTs Welcome Placement 19 KNOWLEDGE COMMERCIALISATION Knowledge Commercialisation What is Knowledge Commercialisation? Knowledge commercialisation is the translation of ideas from research into new technologies and products for commercial offerings. This involves moving from ideas to the development of intellectual property and the investigation of the commercial potential of these ideas. As mentioned earlier in the effective channels for knowledge transfer, not all research ideas will develop into new technologies and potential products. 20 contents ➲ ➲ For those research students who wish to progress their ideas from concept into a commercial opportunity, the next few pages will describe the commercial process and key terminology you will hear as your idea moves through the process into the commercial environment. nd M ak e su re yo u su rrou yo urse lf w it h pe op le is w ho ca n he lp yo u in th ph as e. It is th e ro le of n th e Commerci al is at io to Exec ut ives in th e TTO he lp yo u. Due Dilligence & Legal Research TECHNICAL EVALUATION Is the Product Novel & Unique MARKET EVALUATION Technical Description Four steps have been developed for the commercialisation process and are as follows: Product Description & Market Report 1.Invention Disclosure 2.Invention Evaluation 3.Commercial Strategy Development 4.Commercial Strategy Execution DEVELOPE STRATEGY TO MARKET Commercial Strategy BRING NEW PRODUCT TO MARKET IP Protection contents Collaboraative R&D ➲ ➲ INVENTION DISCLOSURE EVALUATION IP PROTECTION & COMMERCIALISATION 21 Invention Disclosure Process The process map to the left shows the steps required to translate your ideas from research into new technologies and products. These steps will be carried out with the assistance of the Commercialisation Executives in the Technology Transfer Office (TTO). License Spin-off KNOWLEDGE COMMERCIALISATION Welcome NUI Galway Commercialisation Process Descriptions of these four steps can be found in the next few pages or else at www.nuigalway.ie/tto to help you understand the steps. 21 Step 3 - Commercial Strategy Development This phase provides a formal procedure for the timely disclosure of new ideas or disclosures (Inventions) with potential commercial applicability by the inventor to the TTO. Both the Invention Disclosure and Due Diligence forms are used to capture the necessary information and to start the commercialisation process. The output of the evaluation phase will be used to develop a commercialisation plan for the invention. The plan will be developed by experts from the area as well as the Inventor, TTO representatives and the research funding agency. Step 2 - Invention Evaluation The final phase in the commercial process is the execution of the commercialisation plan. Each plan will contain a set of actions, deliverables and milestones. An internal project management system will be used to manage each plan and continuously provide feedback to the Strategy Development phase ensuring traceability and flexibility. Once the Invention is disclosed and presented to the TTO, the next phase evaluates the technical and commercial applicability of the invention. The technical evaluation includes a technical description of the invention as well as a review of the patent literature searches to determine the invention’s novelty. This is important to determine the most appropriate form of Intellectual Property (IP) protection. The commercial evaluation identifies and defines the market segment in which the invention will operate. The potential market size as well as the key competitors (both Irish and International) is also identified. contents ➲ ➲ KNOWLEDGE COMMERCIALISATION 22 Step 1 - Invention Disclosure Step 4 - Commercial Strategy Execution How Can I Do This? • Use the Technology Transfer Office expertise and learn about the Commercialisation process Steps To Progress • Always discuss technology transfer with your supervisor in the first instance • Contact the TTO staff to discuss your research with them • Get to know the commercialisation terminologies e.g. IP, patents, invention disclosures etc. • Be aware of the commercialisation routes suitable for your research e.g. Spin-outs or licenses What Are The Benefits For Me? • Gain tangible benefits – royalties from patents and licences. • Apply your research into real life situations for social benefit • Become aware of market needs and your future users of your research • Be aware of the steps involved in commercialising research – legal, financial, strategy etc. and learn who is on your team KNOWLEDGE COMMERCIALISATION Talk to your supervisor before you make contact with industry as your idea may need to be protected contents ➲ ➲ Welcome Technology Transfer Process 23 GLOSSARY Glossary of Terms Copyright - Copyright is the legal term, which describes the rights given to authors/creators of certain categories of work. www.patentsoffice.ie/en/copyright_whatis.aspx Due Diligence - A process undertaken before the acquisition of a business to ensure all significant risks, rewards and issues are identified and considered before any offer is made to the vendor or an acquisition takes place. www.ipplc.com/ipr/siteservices/glossary/ 24 contents ➲ ➲ Entrepreneur - An innovator of business enterprise who recognizes opportunities to introduce a new product, a new process or an improved organization, and who raises the necessary money, assembles the factors for production and organizes an operation to exploit the opportunity. www.powerhomebiz.com/Glossary/glossary-E.htm Innovation – the introduction of something new, a new idea, method or device. An innovation can be big or small. Brand-new or just a bit different, it doesn’t matter. An innovation can be clearly complex or seemingly simple. Innovations are often thought of in terms of technical achievement, but can also be a design. The type, industry and style of innovation are irrelevant; an innovation’s impact determines its qualification. www.realinnovation.com/content/what_is_innovation.asp Intellectual Property - Intellectual property (IP) is any form of original creation that can be bought or sold - from music to machinery. The four main types of IP rights are patents, trade marks, designs and copyright but there are many other ways to protect your IP. www.ipo.gov.uk/whyuse.htm Patent - A patent confers upon its holder, for a limited period, the right to exclude others from exploiting (making, using, selling, importing) the patented invention, except with the consent of the owner of the patent. www.patentsoffice.ie/en/patents.aspx Knowledge Transfer - Knowledge transfer is about exchanging good ideas, research results, experiences and skills between universities, other research organisations, business, government, the public sector and the wider community to enable innovative new products, services and policies to be developed. www.rcuk.ac.uk/innovation/ktportal/default.htm Research - In the broadest sense of the word, the definition of research includes any gathering of data, information and facts for the advancement of knowledge. www.experiment-resources.com/definition-of-research. html#ixzz11Pdjnb00 contents ➲ ➲ Licence - A legal document giving official permission to do something www.thefreedictionary.com/licence GLOSSARY Welcome Invention - An invention is “the discovery or creation of a new material (either a new manufactured product or a new composition or matter), a new process, a new use for an existing material, or any improvements of any of these.” www.tco.usu.edu/htm/inventors/whatisinvent/ Trade Marks - A trade mark is the means by which a business identifies its goods or services and distinguishes them from the goods and services supplied by other businesses. www.patentsoffice.ie/en/trademark.aspx 25 contents ➲ ➲ Notes 26 Notes ➲ ➲ contents Notes Welcome Notes 27 contents ➲ ➲ Graduate Studies Office National University of Ireland, Galway University Road, Galway www.nuigalway.ie/graduatestudies