The National Agency for Quality Assessment and Accreditation (ANECA) has published the working paper “Knowledge Transfer and Exchange for the Creation of Social Value: Conceptual Foundations and Classification Categories”. The document proposes a conceptual and operational update to the transfer and exchange of knowledge between science and society.

This document reinforces the strategic importance of knowledge transfer as an essential function of Spain’s science, technology and innovation system, in line with European knowledge valorisation policies and recent reforms to the Science Act (2022) and the Organic Law on the University System (2023).

The work, carried out between 2024 and 2025, followed an analytical and participatory process.

In the first phase, the specialised literature, regulatory framework and institutional practices were reviewed. This provided a conceptual foundation and enabled the proposal of classification categories for knowledge transfer and exchange activities.

A consultation phase was subsequently opened to stakeholders across the ecosystem, including universities, public research organisations, knowledge transfer offices, regional agencies and research staff.

This collaborative process helped incorporate a range of professional and disciplinary perspectives, fostering a broad and inclusive view of the university, science and innovation ecosystem.

The document identifies the key concepts that define knowledge transfer and exchange and presents a proposed classification system that reflects the diversity of existing practices. Its aim is to facilitate the identification, classification and assessment of these activities, particularly in the context of the evaluation processes for university teaching staff and research staff carried out by ANECA.

The document thus provides a practically useful reference for those undertaking activities aimed at creating social value through knowledge.

Our Knowledge Transfer Service is providing direct access to the document published by ANECA for all researchers and academic staff interested in exploring this subject in greater depth.

Read the full document: “Knowledge Transfer and Exchange for the Creation of Social Value: Conceptual Foundations and Classification Categories”