Even more research must be translated into innovation

“Danish politicians naturally expect research institutions to share their knowledge; and research-based knowledge is also in high demand among the companies and institutions with which Aarhus University collaborates. That is why it is important and absolutely essential that the knowledge generated by universities is put to practical use,” says Maja Horst, dean of the Faculty of ARTS. 

This focus on leveraging innovation and knowledge from universities is not just a Danish phenomenon. The EU’s next Framework Programme (FP10) is also expected to have a strong focus on innovation and to include, for example, a proposal for a European Competitiveness Fund.

“My impression is that all researchers want their research to make a difference. Danish universities have been given funding to strengthen the organisational structures needed to support this development as well as funds to drive the necessary cultural changes so that more and more research findings can be turned into innovations,” says Maja Horst.

Broadly defined innovation

AU’s innovation strategy is based on a broad definition of innovation, encompassing many different forms and models. “Innovation is not just about patents and spin-offs; it is also about coming up with new processes that change current practices, or about new ways of commercialising existing products or services. Essentially, innovation is everything that makes a difference in society and makes the world a better place,” says Maja Horst. 

“Innovation happens when researchers start thinking about how the knowledge they are generating might lead to change. Society is facing a wealth of challenges that call for fresh thinking, and if research takes its cue from these, we’ve already taken the first step towards innovation,” says the dean. 

What is a good innovation environment? 
Before the turn of the millennium, the focus of the Danish universities was on internationalisation and excellence. And that’s important. But now society expects the universities to contribute to innovation, and this brings new challenges: “For innovation to succeed, it is often necessary to establish links between different competencies and knowledge from different fields of research, with the support of appropriate organisational and financial structures. Innovation therefore requires collaboration across research disciplines, relationship building, communication skills and the ability to engage with the wider community. We need to get even better at recognising those sorts of skills at the university,” says Maja Horst. 

The faculties at Aarhus University are strong research environments. However, Maja Horst believes that there is also a need to address the culture at the university. It’s not like there’s a single innovation model for a particular type of research, and once that’s in place, innovation simply happens. More fundamental development is needed. We need to foster a culture in which knowledge sharing, interdisciplinarity and collaboration are an even more natural part of our research activities. We must strengthen the ecosystems for innovation. We’re working on it, but it’s going to take some time,” says the dean.

Clash between systems for academic recognition
Maja Horst believes that in the academic world, people may have somewhat rigid ideas about what it takes to be a successful researcher. There may be a tendency to celebrate individual achievements and outstanding research, but with the shift towards more socially oriented research and a greater focus on research outcomes and impact, a broader understanding of success is emerging. “At Aarhus University, we’re currently refining our criteria for academic recognition to also include innovation, collaboration and other necessary competencies,” says the dean.

What should researchers do?
Maja Horst believes that researchers should constantly ask themselves: how can my knowledge make a difference in the wider world? And is there anyone I should speak to who could help me understand this problem better? Many researchers are already doing this, but we can help each other do it more. “It is generally beneficial for researchers to work with external partners and across disciplines – this can strengthen research and our understanding of innovation, and often also makes it easier to secure external funding for research,” concludes Maja Horst.