When Knowledge Becomes Value: The Latest Steps of the CEETNOVA Project

Connecting Scientific Excellence with Real Impact

European universities are known for high-level research, talented scholars, and advanced ideas. Yet for decades a fundamental question has remained: how to ensure that academic knowledge does not stay confined to publications or laboratories, but becomes tangible value for society, business, and the public sector. This gap is precisely what the international CEETNOVA project, “Connecting European Innovation and Entrepreneurship Ecosystems through Knowledge Valorisation Ambassadors,” seeks to address.

The project focuses on empowering higher education institutions to train knowledge valorisation ambassadors and to strengthen the competences of doctoral candidates, researchers, postdoctoral fellows, senior academic staff, and non-academic personnel. The development of targeted training programmes and co-creation methods helps to promote more effective knowledge application and commercialization across Europe.

‍

A Strategic Meeting in Trento: From Vision to Implementation

On 5-6 November, CEETNOVA consortium partners gathered for the project’s second in-person meeting, hosted by the University of Trento in Italy. The two-day meeting provided an important platform for partners from the University of Stavanger, University of Trento, Kaunas University of Technology, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, and Linköping University to evaluate project progress and align on the next steps.

The first day focused on discussing interlinkages between work packages, achieved results, and potential risks. Consortium partners shared updates on the Knowledge Valorisation Ambassador trainings currently taking place on campus at each partner institution. These sessions have already been successfully launched across the consortium and will continue throughout 2026, steadily strengthening knowledge valorisation skills within the partner universities. Building on this ongoing progress, the meeting also provided space to finalise the structure of the CEETNOVA digital training programme and to discuss its implementation timeline for different target groups. In addition, partners exchanged plans for upcoming international and local multiplier events, which will further support connections with regional innovation ecosystems.

‍

The University of Trento Experience: Knowledge Valorisation in Practice

The second day of the meeting was dedicated to practical examples. Consortium members were introduced to the University of Trento’s approach to knowledge valorisation - from patenting and licensing regulations to collaboration with regional and international partners, as well as entrepreneurship education initiatives for the university community.

A visit to the FabLab and Robotics Laboratories provided a concrete illustration of how infrastructure, organisational culture, and strategic decisions can help translate research results into real societal impact. These experiences sparked lively discussions on how similar models could be adapted across different European universities.

The meeting organiser, Giuseppe Caputo (University of Trento), highlighted the shared direction and ambition of the project: “Hosting the CEETNOVA partners in Trento was a valuable opportunity to exchange perspectives and learn from one another’s experiences. The discussions highlighted how diverse institutional contexts can inspire new ways of thinking about knowledge valorisation. Seeing different approaches come together reinforced the importance of collaboration and mutual learning in building stronger, more connected innovation ecosystems across Europe.”

‍

CEETNOVA on the European Higher Education Agenda

The international visibility of CEETNOVA was further strengthened on 26-27 November, when project coordinator Utku Ali Rıza Alpaydın presented the initiative at the annual Erasmus Higher Education Seminar (Erasmusseminaret 2025), held in Bergen, Norway.

The presentation outlined the project’s key objectives: developing a knowledge valorisation training package, strengthening local innovation ecosystems, and building an international community of practice. The poster presentation highlighted how CEETNOVA equips future ambassadors with essential competences - from stakeholder engagement and science communication to leadership, an entrepreneurial mindset, and challenge-driven innovation. These skills are crucial for bridging the gap between research and its practical application.

‍

A Sustainable European Knowledge Valorisation Community

The consortium meeting in Trento and the project presentation in Bergen demonstrate that CEETNOVA is steadily moving from planning to real impact. The project not only develops training content but also helps shape a shared European culture of knowledge valorisation, where universities are seen as active players in innovation ecosystems. By fostering collaboration, peer learning, and the development of practical skills, CEETNOVA contributes to a broader transformation of higher education in Europe.

The CEETNOVA project is funded by the European Union. More information about the project, its partners, and activities is available here.