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What is “Knowledge Exchange”? Learning from the Bloomsbury SET Dr Emma Tomlinson, Research Development
RESEARCH NEWS
Knowledge Exchange is a phrase often used in universities, in parallel with translation research and technology transfer, but
without always knowing what it means, or how this affects researchers.
Knowledge Exchange is the concept
of bringing together academics and partners outside universities to exchange their ideas and expertise. This could include many various activities including collaboration, working with non- governmental organisations, commercial exchange, open innovation and more. Activities related to this can really increase the impact of research, and focus on making a difference to society.
In 2018, the RVC was awarded funding from Research England to establish the Bloomsbury SET (Science, Economics, Technology) to support knowledge exchange activities with three other London-based colleges, to focus on interdisciplinary work in infectious disease, pathogen emergence and anti-microbial resistance. Its overall
aim is improving human and animal health through partnerships. The other colleges in the SET are the London School of Economics, the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and SOAS University of London. The Bloomsbury SET platform provides opportunities for collaboration between these colleges, and across disciplines to tackle research involving science and the social sciences in a more ‘joined-up’ way.
The Bloomsbury SET supports researchers, but also brings together the Research Offices, or ‘Professional
Services’ teams of each partner college. Research Offices take care of managerial challenges of research including research finances, strategic development and technology licensing and management. By managing programmes in Knowledge Exchange, these experienced Research Office teams are supporting academics at the RVC, and its partners, to undertake larger initiatives with real impact.
There are many ways you can support knowledge exchange in a university, and at the RVC, we’re undertaking various activities throughout this three-year project. In the last year, the Bloomsbury SET has supported eight collaborative projects and three innovation fellowships. We’ve also supported networking events and collaborative ‘sand-pit’ symposia looking at mathematical modelling
and artificial intelligence. The partners recognise the future of research is in inter-disciplinary collaboration and embracing new technologies.
To date, this funding has provided a unique platform for collaboration with our partners on issues as diverse as developing new vaccines, understanding
the genetics of malaria parasites and diagnosing infectious disease in cattle. Our plans until 2021 include international conferences, supporting commercial development of new low-cost tools, understanding the challenges of people using new technologies and working in collaboration with commercial partners. We will also be working internationally with lower and middle income countries to tackle the global health challenge of emerging infectious disease.
The Bloomsbury SET programme connects places, people, businesses, ideas and infrastructures to bring forward innovative scientific and technical solutions to help safeguard human health.
If you would like to know more visit:
https://bloomsburyset.org.uk/
If you are interested in other collaborative research opportunities with the RVC, or our other Knowledge Exchange work in the Research Office, then please let us know (development@rvc.ac.uk) and we will put you in contact with the Research Development Manager.
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