Knowledge mobilisation builds local research collaborations for social innovation

Abstract

Universities seek to maximise the impact of their research by investing in technology commercialisation services but universities fail to support the various impacts of non-commercial research.This paper describes the experience ofYork University (Toronto, Canada) in developing the institutional capacITy to support knowledge mobilisation to maximise the impacts of research from the social sciences and humanities.York works in partnership with local research users to provide enhanced access to research through dedicated support for research collaborations. Grounded in theories of knowledge transfer and exchange, and illustrated with examples, this paper demonstrates how investments in knowledge mobilisation create value forthe institution, researchers, graduate students and research partners.

A report detailing the development of a university-based knowledge mobilization unit that enhances research outreach and engagement

“…As previously reported (Phipps & Shapson, 2009), York operates a research translation help desk (Rodriguez & Millican, 2008;Hart, Northmore, Gerhardt, & Rodriguez, 2009). The help desk is staffed by the knowledge broker who fields research inquiries from non-academic decision-makers seeking research or expertise.…”

“…To support these collaborations, we have conceptualized KMb as a suite of services, actions, and activities that work together to support research outreach and engagement. As articulated by Phipps and Shapson (2009), KMb encompasses methods of producer push, user pull, and knowledge exchange and extends them to include the co-production of knowledge (see Table 1 below for further detail). In this manner KMb supports research dissemination and engagement of academic research beyond that made possible by traditional forms of scholarly communications.…”

“…York University's KMb Unit is a service unit connecting researchers and decisionmakers by creating those complex research relationships through which knowledge flows and is co-created in an iterative fashion. York University is the first description of an institutional KMb capacity analogous to the ubiquitous, university-based technology transfer office (Phipps & Shapson, 2009 2006 and employs three professional knowledge brokers. The Manager, Knowledge Mobilization is now an ongoing appointment, but was supported as a research employee position through external grants for 4.5 years.…”

Knowledge Co-Creation and Assistive Technology

“…e knowledge mobilization unit (KMb) at York University is a fully integrated, institutional research infrastructure developed at York that seeks to connect academic research and expertise to non-academic individuals and organizations so that research can inform decisions about public policy and professional practice. It was developed as part of a university outreach strategy to engage diverse non-academic communities (including businesses and government agencies) in research activities (Phipps & Shapson, 2009).…”

An Institutional Process for Brokering Community-Campus Research Collaborations

“…collaborations (Hall & Tremblay, 2012) or may take the form of a service unit supporting engaged research (Phipps & Shapson, 2009) and/or teaching (Hart, Northmore, Gerhardt & Rodriguez 2009) leading to benefits such as social innovation (Nichols, Phipps, Provencal & Hewitt, 2013).…”