2013 Canadian Knowledge Mobilization Forum
Jérôme Elissalde – Research Office
Luc Dancause – Partnership and Innovation Support Office Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM)
Competitive Intelligence: An Island of Structure in an Unstructured Ocean
Supporting Knowledge Mobilization : From the roots to the fruits...
1. Jérôme Elissalde – Research Office
Luc Dancause – Partnership and Innovation Support Office
Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM)
Canadian Knowledge Mobilization Forum 2013 - Mississauga – June 3-4, 2013
Supporting Knowledge Mobilization :
From the roots to the fruits…
2. Soutien à la mobilisation des connaissances - UQAM
An Initiative
Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM)
• Midsized comprehensive university
September 2010 : Two professionals hired
• Research Office
• Partnership and Innovation Support Office
Challenges
• To better support research units
• To increase the accessibility of expertise
• To develop new ways to interact with partners
…For 7 faculties and schools
Soutien à la mobilisation des connaissances - UQAM
3. Soutien à la mobilisation des connaissances - UQAM
Stakeholders perspectives
– Researchers
– Students
– Research Unit Coordinators
– University Support Staff
– Executives
– Partners
– Granting agencies
Challenges
• Doing KMb
• Supporting
KMb
Thinking
• Beyond the
silos
Acting
• Individually
• Collectively
• Institutionally
5. Soutien à la mobilisation des connaissances - UQAM
Stimulating reflection on KMb at the
institutional level
• Actions
– Collaborative events*
– Website on KMb
• Pitfalls
– Not everybody is at the same level
– Some people feel as if their approach
and/or status is being questioned
– Disciplinary barriers
Soutien à la mobilisation des connaissances - UQAM
6. Soutien à la mobilisation des connaissances - UQAMSoutien à la mobilisation des connaissances - UQAM
A collaborative KMb event
81 people interested in KMb got together on
November 23rd 2012
• 6 faculties represented, 40 coordinators and other
research support staff, 15 researchers, 10 students
working as research assistants, 8 executives, 8
partners…
• Discussion on perceptions, needs and goals
• Art of Hosting approach
A simple event ? Rather an ongoing process !
Soutien à la mobilisation des connaissances - UQAM
8. Soutien à la mobilisation des connaissances - UQAM
Counseling and capacity development
Actions
– Support for research projects and
partnerships
– KMb planning tools
– CoP – KMb and Communications
Pitfalls
– Finding the right tone
– Finding the right format
– Flying under the radar
Soutien à la mobilisation des connaissances - UQAM
9. Soutien à la mobilisation des connaissances - UQAM
Identifying and promoting research expertise
Actions
– Focus cards
– Communications Services
– Portraits of UQAM expertise in a
variety of research areas
Pitfalls
– Outdated or incomplete databases
– Shortcomings of the system
– Promoting only stars
Soutien à la mobilisation des connaissances - UQAM
10. Soutien à la mobilisation des connaissances - UQAM
Connecting researchers and practitioners
Actions
– Networking events
– External demands
Pitfalls
– Organizations and researchers not working at the same rate
– Fear of shaking hands with the devil
Soutien à la mobilisation des connaissances - UQAM
11. Soutien à la mobilisation des connaissances - UQAM
Facing KMb challenges
To improve, stakeholders must get better at…
• understanding
• planning
• communicating
• collaborating
• evaluating
Soutien à la mobilisation des connaissances - UQAM
12. Soutien à la mobilisation des connaissances - UQAM
What’s Next?
Complex system
Soutien à la mobilisation des connaissances - UQAM
Promote
Support capacity
development
Systematize
procedures Formalize our work
Support creation of
new research units
Provide meeting
spaces
Develop alliances
(internal & external)
Have fun !
What’s Next?
Shared vision, shared leadership
and responsibility