2025-2027 Development of METK’s knowledge transfer system

Project Objective 

The aim of the project is to make METK’s knowledge transfer activities systematic by providing customer-oriented integrated services, thereby increasing METK’s cooperation with businesses. As a result of the project and subsequent related activities, METK’s knowledge transfer activities will become more systematic. Consequently, research results will be put into practice more quickly, and METK’s services and opportunities will be comprehensive and accessible to target groups (primarily agricultural entrepreneurs, but also policymakers and other R&D institutions). The project’s objectives and activities contribute to the knowledge transfer pillar of the RDI strategy/plan TAIE 2021–2035, which, among other things, focuses directly on applying research results in society and introducing research outcomes into business practice. Within the growth area “Valorisation of local resources: food,” the project’s activities are most directly linked to the priority “Research and development to ensure food safety and quality.” The vast majority of METK’s research and development and innovation activities are related to plant-based food resources. METK provides numerous accredited laboratory analyses and field trial services used to assess both the safety and quality of plant-based food resources.

Key Activities

• A horizontal, cross-sectoral service-based management and work organisation approach will be introduced at METK. The project will result in a list of research services based on customer needs, trained service managers who apply the acquired knowledge in their daily work, and functioning core teams for each service that operate in line with the objectives set for the services.
   
• To promote knowledge transfer between agricultural entrepreneurs and researchers, a spokesperson with an agricultural background will be recruited. Their task is to consolidate scientific information across fields into a coherent whole and deliver it to agricultural entrepreneurs in an easily understandable form (i.e., the spokesperson serves as a link between researchers and entrepreneurs). Within the project, a sales manager will also be recruited. Under their leadership, METK will develop a comprehensive product portfolio targeted at agricultural enterprises and launch systematic sales activities for METK’s opportunities and capabilities (including seed sales and laboratory analyses). In addition, “client-side” roles will be established at METK, covering the development of substantive algorithms for IT developments, preparation of terms of reference, procurement procedures, and ongoing close cooperation with the IT developer throughout the development process.
   
• The development of a company-based map service in Spectrum (server software for managing and publishing spatial data) includes the following IT developments: development of an interface with TARA; development of services for viewing, querying and downloading Spectrum soil monitoring spatial data; and development of a map service based on the needs of (large) producers for visualising and querying company-specific soil-related data (including soil monitoring data) and supporting economic decision-making. To manage the IT developments, a business analyst has been recruited, whose tasks include developing substantive algorithms for the IT developments, preparing the terms of reference, and cooperating with the IT developer throughout the development process.