FEUGA attended and supported the organisation of the IGNICIA 2026 Forum, held on 9 July 2026 in Santiago de Compostela. The event was promoted by the Galician Innovation Agency (GAIN) to analyse the UK model of knowledge transfer, its policies, organisational structures and good practices, with the aim of strengthening the capacity of the Galician R&D&I ecosystem to generate economic and social impact.

Knowledge transfer requires a forward-looking vision: connecting research with the needs of companies, public administrations and society; facilitating the progress of promising ideas towards applicable solutions; and equipping innovation support teams with specialised tools, networks and capabilities. Initiatives such as the IGNICIA Forum contribute to creating this shared space for learning, collaboration and the development of new opportunities.

The Forum focused on an international perspective on knowledge transfer, bringing together more than 70 professionals in research, innovation and knowledge transfer from universities, research centres, public bodies and other entities within the Galician R&D&I System.

The event addressed three key aspects for strengthening knowledge transfer:

• Transfer policies and models to transform R&D&I results into economic and social impact.
• Professionalisation of innovation teams, strengthening their capacities to valorise, protect and support research results.
• Collaboration between science, business and public administration, promoting partnerships that accelerate the adoption and implementation of innovative solutions.

Experience from the UK ecosystem

The programme featured leading professionals from the UK knowledge-transfer ecosystem, who contributed their experience:

• Simon Hepworth, Director of Knowledge Exchange at UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), and Joe Marshall, CEO of the National Centre for Universities and Business (NCUB), addressed policies aimed at fostering knowledge transfer and valorisation.
• Stuart Wilkinson, CEO of Knowledge Exchange UK (KEUK), presented initiatives for developing professional profiles specialised in knowledge transfer.
• Allison Campbell, CEO of the Government Office for Technology Transfer (GOTT), shared the experience of technology-transfer units within public administration.
• Alexandra Bush, Director and Head of Knowledge Exchange & TT Services at Oxentia, presented new organisational models and experiences of shared technology-transfer offices.
• Ananay Aguilar, Head of TenU, analysed the contribution of networks of excellence to generating economic and social impact from university research.

The experience presented by the UK ecosystem highlights that effective knowledge transfer requires a combination of policies promoting valorisation, specialised professionals, flexible organisational models—including shared services—and networks of excellence that strengthen collaboration and maximise the economic and social impact of research.

Impact-oriented innovation

The Forum forms part of the trajectory of the IGNICIA Knowledge Transfer Programme, promoted by GAIN to facilitate the progress of R&D&I results towards their validation, valorisation and application in society and the productive sector.

Since 2016, the programme has supported 41 proof-of-concept projects, 16 of which have achieved commercial success, resulting in the creation of 13 spin-offs and three agreements with industry.

For FEUGA, participating in and supporting this type of initiative means contributing to a more connected, prepared and results-oriented ecosystem: an environment in which research can identify opportunities, develop solutions with potential, and follow clearer pathways towards transfer, adoption and impact.