University

Knowledge is significantly increasing as a driver of innovation and wealth, and universities continue to play a more central role in the creation and dissemination of valuable knowledge. Beyond education and research, universities face the challenge of being partners in research consortia together with other universities and industry. In addition, universities are key stakeholders in developing industry clusters and delivering new innovations through creating firms; in addition, individual researchers and other actors are active participants in open solutions like creative commons and open source developments.

This creates a number of new challenge for large universities with high-level research across a variety of disciplines.   These new challenges require the university to accept a greater responsibility and role as an active stakeholder in the building and management of platforms which can generate value for the benefit of society. The capacity for knowledge to promote and advance welfare in areas like healthcare, medicine, environment, renewable energy and other areas is not only important because of the potential commercial value in such areas, but also because of the significant societal value that advancements in these areas offer for both developed and developing societies.

A Knowledge Management Platform (”KMP”) is a model for implementing Intellectual Asset Management into a public research setting in order to facilitate holistic and strategic management of knowledge assets.  In the same way that education and research are integrated components of the “business” of the university, the KMP model is designed to integrate strategic management and utilization of knowledge assets as an additional function of that business. The KMP model is something which can be followed by any university or public research institution with the will and vision to implement this approach in their organization.

The KMP model includes a number of different features which address the challenges facing public research organizations. The core principal revolves around strategic management of knowledge assets, adapted for the university setting. The KMP model delivers a holistic solution for universities to take an active role in managing valuable knowledge within their sphere, and for facilitating value creating activities with external actors in industry and society at large.  Some of the key features offered by the KMP Model which help the university to overcome these challenges relate to the following important issues:

1. Identification and assessment of knowledge assets,
2. Governance and strategic management of knowledge assets, and
3. Preparing and packaging knowledge assets for utilization.

Specially adapted tools and processes are used to assemble and continuously provide information about the status, development, opportunities and transactions associated with valuable intellectual assets. The integration of this information with activities and decision structures establishes a management platform within the university that is linked to all levels, including researchers, administrative organizations and management. This ensures that the assets are managed from a holistic perspective and in line with a well-defined and cohesive strategy.