Abstract
Technology, especially cognitive agents and robots, has significant potential to improve the healthcare system and patient care. However, innovation within academia seldomly finds its way into practice. At least in Germany, there is still a digitalization gap between academia and healthcare practice and little understanding of how healthcare facilities can successfully purchase, implement, and adopt new knowledge and technology. Therefore, the aim of this study is to develop a successful academic knowledge transfer strategy for healthcare technology. We conducted a qualitative study with academic staff working in higher education in Germany and professionals in their practice partner organizations. In 15 semi-structured interviews, we aimed to assess interviewees experiences with knowledge transfer, to identify perceived influencing factors, and to understand the key aspects of a successful knowledge transfer strategy. The Dynamic Knowledge Transfer Model by Wehn and Montalvo, 2018 was used for data analysis. Based on our findings, we suggest that a successful transfer strategy between academia and practice needs to be multi-directional and agile. Moreover, partners within the transfer need to be on equal terms about expected knowledge transfer project outcomes. Our proposed measures focus particularly on regular consultations and communication during and after the project proposal phase.
Highlights
We suggest that a successful transfer strategy between academia and practice needs to be multi-directional and agile
We will use the terms academic partners and practice partners in the following for what has classically been referred to as providers and recipients in KT because in this work we postulate the importance of reciprocity in a successful transfer strategy
When referring to the individuals who participated in our study, we use the term interviewee and depending on their employment we specify that they come from academia or practice partners and from social or economic partners
Summary
The aim of this study is to develop a successful academic knowledge transfer strategy for healthcare technology. There are numerous advantages resulting from the relation between research institutes and healthcare practice such as improved surgical outcomes, treatment processes and patient care (e.g., personalized treatment and tele-therapy applications) (Anderson, 2001; Collins et al, 2016). The EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation “Horizon 2020” supported science and knowledge transfer from academia to practice with almost 80 billion euros some invested in the healthcare sector. These efforts show the importance attached to KT. Transfer activities are structurally difficult to integrate into the (German) university research context. 4 years ago, the German “Wissenschaftsrat” published a memorandum calling for more appreciation of transfer and warned that transfer requires additional resources which should not compete with resources for teaching and research (Wissenschaftsrat, 2019)
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