Objectives

The contribution of universities and public research organisations in Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, FYR of Macedonia, Montenegro, and Serbia to economic development is not yet fully recognised, and knowledge transfer is just beginning to gain importance: Universities need to develop concepts for joint research with industry, intellectual property management, and university spin-offs.

Research personnel and students need to be trained in knowledge transfer issues. Companies need to become more involved in collaborative research. Agencies funding research and innovation need to spend more attention to knowledge transfer. This workshop was intended to discuss the status and challenges of knowledge transfer as well as good practices which are visible.

Further information is provided in the document attached. Presentations are attached below.

Background

This workshop supported the implementation of the European Commission's 2008 Recommendation on the management of intellectual property (IP) in knowledge transfer (KT) activities and Code of Practice for universities and other public research organisations (PROs). It was part of a workshop series covering 39 European countries in 2011 and 2012. The workshop convened 37 KT stakeholders, in particular from universities, other PROs, and policy.

Main Results

Knowledge transfer is an emerging issue in Western Balkan countries. Of the countries involved in this workshop, Serbia stands out as most developed in terms of research, KT and KT policies. In all Western Balkan countries, KT policies need to be assessed against a particular background as they are young democracies which are still developing their institutions and which have a relatively low priority for research, innovation and KT.

Albania has 47 universities, national strategies targeting KT and IP management, and national R&D programmes. Patent applications in Albania have increased starkly since 2001. However, KT offices and activities still need to be developed.

Bosnia-Herzegovina is suffering from detrimental political and economic circumstances after the civil war. While there was considerable research and KT before the war, both are hardly existing in the country today, and for political decision makers it has low priority.

The FYR of Macedonia lost large parts of its industrial base in the past 20 years, and academic research and innovation activities also declined. KT is largely taking place informally. However, there are political activities to improve innovation and KT.

In Montenegro, while IP legislation has been put in place, the topic of IP is insufficiently present in the universities. This is due to a lack of interest and lack of funds. However, there are some individual KT activities undertaken by professors. The industrial property office is a major driver of developing KT in Montenegro.

Serbia has a considerable KT infrastructure of PROs, technology parks, start-up support centres, and two KTOs. There are some examples of successful KT, and a legal and policy framework for IP and KT that is becoming more and more comprehensive.

Source: KTS