KT Initaitive of the Year | ASTP Impact Awards 2026

The KT Initiative of the Year Award recognises initiatives originating from European publicly funded research organisations that demonstrate exceptional societal impact through knowledge transfer.

The shortlisted initiatives highlight how universities and research organisations are building innovation ecosystems, supporting industry transformation and accelerating the translation of research into real-world solutions.

Below are the finalists for the KT Initiative of the Year Award.

Data2Sustain, A Regional-to-European Knowledge Transfer Platform Accelerating Digital and Sustainable Transformation

Ireland
https://youtu.be/2byX6ydTUGY

Data2Sustain, A Regional-to-European Knowledge Transfer Platform Accelerating Digital and Sustainable Transformation is a European Digital Innovation Hub led by Atlantic Technological University. The initiative supports enterprises and public organisations in adopting digital technologies such as AI, data analytics and automation. Through services including testing, training and innovation ecosystem support, the platform connects research expertise with real-world needs. In 2025, it supported hundreds of organisations and thousands of participants, demonstrating how knowledge transfer can accelerate digital and sustainable transformation.

SPARK Poland

Poland
https://youtu.be/2YylbhbldSQ

SPARK Poland is a national mentoring programme designed to accelerate the translation of biomedical research into real-world healthcare solutions. Organised by the Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology and supported by the Polish Ministry of Science and Higher Education, the initiative provides funding, mentoring and expert guidance to research teams developing innovations addressing unmet medical needs. By connecting researchers with international mentors and industry experts, SPARK Poland strengthens the pathway from academic discovery to clinical and commercial impact.

Strengthening Innovation Systems for Global Health Impact (FLIGHT Project)

United Kingdom

https://youtu.be/9fXSjOJieLs

Strengthening Innovation Systems for Global Health Impact (FLIGHT Project) is a collaborative initiative led by LSTM Enterprise & Innovation that accelerates the development of global health technologies. Through mentoring, training and international partnerships, the programme supports innovators in advancing early-stage research toward practical healthcare solutions, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. By bringing together academic, industry and global partners, the initiative demonstrates how collaborative knowledge transfer can strengthen innovation systems and deliver meaningful societal impact.

AgNav Partnership: Driving climate action through national policy, educating farmers and farm level practices

Ireland
https://youtu.be/qJINfLEBDDM

AgNav Partnership: Driving climate action through national policy, educating farmers and farm level practices is a collaboration between Teagasc, Bord Bia and the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation. The initiative delivers a digital platform that helps farmers assess environmental performance and develop climate action plans. By 2025, more than 17,000 farms were using the platform. The partnership demonstrates how coordinated knowledge transfer can translate research, data and policy into practical tools supporting sustainable agriculture.

InnOValley Proof-of-Concept Fund (IOVPoC): Transforming a Research Culture into a Translation Mindset

Portugal
https://youtu.be/rnjd2RMAQb8

InnOValley Proof-of-Concept Fund (IOVPoC): Transforming a Research Culture into a Translation Mindset is a translational funding programme managed by the ITQB NOVA Innovation Office and co-funded by the Municipality of Oeiras. The initiative supports early-stage life science technologies with funding, mentoring and international expert evaluation. Since its launch, the programme has increased patent activity, attracted follow-on funding and strengthened researcher engagement with innovation, demonstrating how targeted proof-of-concept funding can accelerate knowledge valorisation.

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