Knowledge2Impact: Valorising Knowledge for European Competitiveness

Knowledge2Impact addresses Europe’s persistent gap between excellent research and weak innovation uptake. It transforms fragmented Technology and Knowledge Transfer Offices (TTOs/KTOs) into a connected, professionalised, and impact-driven ecosystem. The project brings together a diverse consortium of universities, research organisations, SMEs, NGOs, and policy actors from widening and non-widening countries. The overall objective is to strengthen knowledge valorisation across the ERA and ensure that research excellence translates into economic, societal, and policy value. This will be achieved through five targeted actions: (i) upskilling TTO/KTO staff via training and mentoring; (ii) modernising services through a Service Toolbox, AI toolkit, and inclusive Living Labs; (iii) embedding entrepreneurship in students and researchers with curricula, hackathons, and summer schools; (iv) engaging external stakeholders in co-design processes; and (v) ensuring all activities promote inclusivity, sustainability, and open access.The methodology integrates a dual Zoom-out/Zoom-in approach: system-level analysis, co-creation, and benchmarking are followed by piloting and experiential learning across diverse institutional contexts. Impact is driven through five pillars: staff professionalisation, modernised services, FAIR knowledge uptake, entrepreneurial mindsets, and ERA connectivity via cascade funding, peer shadowing, and a durable community of practice.Knowledge2Impact directly supports ERA Action 7, the New European Innovation Agenda, and the EU’s 2024–2029 priorities for competitiveness and strategic autonomy. All results are designed for long-term uptake via open-access models, strong governance, and tailored sustainability and exploitation plans.