Building a Successful Knowledge Transfer Office

Training Course

Building a Successful Knowledge Transfer Office

This is a vital course for institutions seeking to bridge the gap between academic research and commercialisation opportunities.

Book Your Place

28 Jan - 30 Jan 2026 Lisbon, Portugal
Members
€1,290.00
Non-members
€1,940.00

Whether you're setting up a new KTO or enhancing an existing one, Building a Successful Knowledge Transfer Office offers essential guidance for institutions seeking to establish or develop effective units in the dynamic field of knowledge transfer. Through practical case studies and interactive sessions, participants will learn about the structures, approaches and policies needed to bridge the gap between academic research and commercialisation opportunities.

This course is for individuals who are developing new KTOs or reshaping existing ones, as well as for experienced KT practitioners who wish to gain a deeper understanding of how to bring together all the elements needed to grow a successful KTO. The course provides an excellent foundation for those aspiring to leadership roles — including Director positions — within a KTO, as such responsibilities will inevitably involve designing the operations required to conduct a KTO’s business.

This course is practical and relevant, so we would like participants to have some operational management experience and current responsibilities within their unit. It is sufficient that they recognise there is room for improvement and that better systems exist. This way, the scenarios we discuss are more likely to resonate, provide a stronger basis for learning, and enable richer exchanges with fellow participants.

For more information on the programme click on More Info.

Why Join The course?

This three-day course provides a framework for establishing or running a successful Knowledge Transfer (KT) operation within a university or research organisation. Although each organisation approaches its KT activities differently, many of the core challenges faced by Knowledge Exchange (KE) leaders are similar.

The course has been designed by KT Directors with decades of experience in structuring offices and managing the challenges of delivering long-term outcomes and impact — often with short-term resources and staffing — while working with institutional stakeholders who may have limited KE experience but high expectations.

The course explores how to develop an effective KT strategy, build trust with researchers, attract and retain the right KE staff, and implement robust policies, systems, and processes. The interactive sessions include case studies and practical examples of KTO operations, with ample time to share experiences and discuss common issues. Delegates will also be able to explore new trends and emerging challenges in KT and consider how to approach these.

Course Objectives

The course objectives are to:

  • Understand the contect of KT within the organisation
  • Explore organisational frameworks for KTOs
  • Development of strategi goals, KPIs and financial drivers
  • Professionalise KT processes, policies, contracts and agreements
  • Encourage and incentivise academic engagement
  • Development of strong teams
  • Effectively engaging stakeholders and partners

Key Topics

The key course topics are:

  • The environment for KE and the role of the KTO within the organisation
  • Identifying and supporting your customers
  • The organisational models for a KTO and what wider entrepreneurial ecosystems do you need to be part of?
  • Creating and supporting a motivated team
  • Professionalising your KT processes, policies and agreements
  • Setting KPIs, Understanding your Value and reporting upwards
  • Building an effective KTO strategy
  • Getting buy-in - Marketing your KTO
  • Reshaping your unit to respond to new trends and challenges

Booking Options

  • Are you an ASTP Member?

  • By proceeding with this booking, you are agreeing to allow ASTP to use your image solely for promotional and educational purposes.

Testimonials

testimonial

The experts, the specific content and the informal setting will improve you as a professional.

Brechtje Vreenegoor

Radboud Universteit, Netherlands

testimonial

The expert-panel discussion educated me in strategic and meritorious choice of inventions to approach investors and manage investment funds for establishing a spin off.  

Ram Siddappa

Erasmus MC, Netherlands

testimonial

ASTP has attained a unique position that has turned it into a highly valued player on the global technology transfer scene.

Koenraad Debackere

KU Leuven, Belgium

testimonial

Working and Learning with old and new friends – best way to do it!

Sara Matt-Leubner

University of Innsbruck, Austria

testimonial

International presence is amazing, so many countries, universities... represented here!!

Christian Massus

SATT Aquitaine, France