Developing a system and culture of knowledge transfer, introduction of effective mechanisms for the management of interaction between the University and external customers, and forming a team of qualified experts in the sphere of knowledge transfer for an effective socio-economic development of UNN are fundamental to the success of the university’s international strategy.

International strategy

Developing a system and culture of knowledge transfer, introduction of effective mechanisms for the management of interaction between the University and external customers, and forming a team of qualified experts in the sphere of knowledge transfer for an effective socio-economic development of UNN are fundamental to the success of the university’s international strategy.

Knowledge transfer strategy in UNN

Definitions (key terms)

Innovation is the use of the results of creative activity for developing new products, processes or services.

The concept of a knowledge triangle reflects the interaction between educationresearch, and innovations which are key drivers of a knowledge-based economy.

Knowledge transfer includes organizational systems and processes by means of which knowledge (including technologies, know-how, expertise and skills) is transferred from one party to another resulting in the introduction of innovations.

Technology transfer is a concept that precedes the concept of knowledge transfer; at present it is regarded as a component of knowledge transferthat involves the transfer of a new technology from its developer to its user or from a more developed area to a less developed one.

Intellectual property rights. Intellectual property, as defined by WIPO Convention, includes property rights relating to literary, artistic and scientific works, performances of performing artists, phonograms and broadcasts, inventions in all fields of human endeavor, scientific discoveries, industrial designs, trademarks, service marks, commercial names and designations, protection against unfair competition, and all other rights resulting from intellectual activity in the industrial, scientific, literary or artistic fields.

Lifelong learning is a system of measures that ensures man’s learning activity undertaken throughout life, with the aim of improving knowledge, skills and competences within a personal, civic, social and/or employment-related perspective.

Innovative university is based on the concept of a knowledge triangle. It considers the development of innovation activity one of its key tasks, along with education and research.

Background

World’s leading nations, including Russia, have prioritized the forming of the global innovative society by means of development and integration of all the three elements of the "knowledge triangle" (education, research and innovations), large-scale investment in human resources, development of professional skills and research, and also by supporting the modernization of education systems to make them more fit to satisfy the needs of the global knowledge-based economy.

The Mission Statement of the State University Nizhny Novgorod leans on the concept of a knowledge triangle. The University of Nizhny Novgorod sees its mission as maintaining and strengthening the role of UNN as one of the leading institutions of Russian higher education which is engaged in research-based training of highly skilled graduates capable of making an effective contribution to Russia's progressive development, takes part in the development of basic and applied research as essentials for the provision of high quality education and as sources of new knowledge and technologies that provide solutions to social and economic problems of the modern society, in the development of a knowledge and technology transfer culture common to all universities.

To date, all the necessary institutional prerequisites have been formed in UNN for implementing the strategy of knowledge transfer. UNN is one of Russia’s leading classical universities and carries out a wide range of fundamental and applied research. In 2006, UNN was granted the right to carry out its Innovative Education Program in the framework of the National Project «Education».

A system for life-long education has been formed at the University. The infrastructure for the support of knowledge transfer is developing. It includes the system for interaction with external enterprises, organizations and research institutions. UNN’s system for supporting knowledge transfer includes: Innovation Technology Centre, Department of technology transfer and business in the field of science and technology, Centre for network integration with external enterprises, Methodological centre for knowledge transfer, Regional centre for international scientific and technical cooperation, Graduate employment centre, Centre for supplementary professional training.

Goals of the strategy

Effective sustainable development of UNN as an innovative university promoting social, economic, and cultural development of the Nizhny Novgorod region, the Volga Federal District and Russia in the conditions of the global knowledge-based society.

Developing a system and culture of knowledge transfer, introduction of effective mechanisms for the management of interaction between the University and external customers, and forming a team of qualified experts in the sphere of knowledge transfer for an effective socio-economic development of the University.

Expected results

- Increased number of contracts concluded with external customers.

- Increased number of partnerships for knowledge transfer with enterprises, organizations, and government agencies.

- Increased income from commercialization of R&D results.

- Increased income from educational programs in knowledge transfer.

- Forming at the University an integrated system for supporting and protecting intellectual property rights, including the results of scientific and pedagogical work.

Main activities

- Continuous monitoring of social and economic needs at the regional, national and international level for identifying the areas of possible application of the University’s innovative potential.

- Identifying and supporting promising (from the point of view of their commercialization) activity areas of UNN’s research and academic staff.

- Carrying out specialized programs of professional skills development and upgrading within the framework of contracts with higher educational institutions, enterprises and organizations, government and public bodies.

- Forming a system for stimulating research and academic teams aimed at encouraging their activities in the development of knowledge transfer.

- Developing a knowledge transfer culture and appropriate skills by means of professional development of researchers, academics and administrative staff of UNN.

- Development of a system for international scientific and technical cooperation at the University.

- Optimization of the organizational structure for knowledge transfer at UNN.

Achievement indicators

A system for all-round monitoring and assessment of results of knowledge transfer should be introduced in UNN. Key indicators for assessing the efficiency of knowledge transfer in UNN are as follows:

- amount of funding for joint contract research;

- number of registered discoveries, patents and licenses initiated by University employees;

- amount of proceeds from commercialization of R&D results;

- number of created spin-out companies and amount of the involved external financing;

- number of University employees who took part in professional development and upgrading programs;

- number of trainees in the programs of additional professional training realized at the University within the framework of contracts with external customers;

- number of information events on knowledge transfer held by the University.