Webinar Summary - From Research to Impact: Institutional Support for Research-based Innovation

The Community for Educational Innovation (CEI) hosted a webinar on October 22, 2025: “From Research to Impact: Institutional Support for Research-based Innovation.” This webinar explored how higher education institutions support researchers in turning their discoveries into research-based innovations and societal impact.

To learn more about the session, you can access the following resources:

📄 Session Summary
📤 Presentation Slides
📘 Background Note

Three Expert Perspectives

The webinar brought together three complementary perspectives on how higher education institutions can strengthen institutional support for research-based innovation, bridging the gap between research and societal impact.

Verena Régent (Scientific Associate, WPZ Research GmbH) unpacked the barriers applied researchers face when attempting to valorise their work. Drawing on her exploratory study, she highlighted unclear exploitation pathways, skills gaps, cultural barriers, and insufficient support after project completion. She situated these challenges within the broader evolution of the “Third Mission,” showing how valorisation has shifted from linear technology transfer to collaborative, multi-actor co-creation that demands new competences and institutional structures. She concluded by showcasing practical support mechanisms—such as the Horizon Results Booster and national initiatives—that help researchers move from findings to impact. 

Bernhard Weber (Managing Director, Unicorn Start-up & Innovation Hub) focused on the human dimension of innovation, arguing that innovation begins with people—not structures or programmes. He explained how risk aversion, perfectionism, and fragmented institutional processes often stifle researchers’ capacity to pursue impactful pathways. Weber called for a shift from compliance to empowerment: from managing IP to developing innovators, from valorisation offices to innovation partners, and from rigid processes to personalised researcher journeys. His message emphasised that institutions must cultivate a culture that supports curiosity, courage, and alternative innovation careers. 

Charlotte Norrman (Senior Associate Professor, Linköping University) introduced a practical tool—the valorisation canvas—designed to guide researchers in identifying, articulating, and planning the societal value of their ideas. She explained how the canvas helps map potential impact routes beyond entrepreneurship, including public-sector implementation, policy influence, knowledge arenas, and education. By encouraging researchers to consider impact early and systematically, the tool supports more strategic and realistic pathways to utilisation. Norrman stressed that institutions must provide training, mentoring, and resources to help researchers make use of such tools effectively. 

Key Takeaways

The discussion underscored that:

• Impact must extend beyond publications. Institutions need to encourage researchers to reflect on societal value early and embed valorisation into research culture—not treat it as an add-on.
• Innovation requires human-centred support. Empowering researchers—through mentoring, tailored journeys, and recognition of diverse motivations—is more effective than relying solely on administrative mechanisms.
• Diversity strengthens innovation ecosystems. Participants stressed the importance of supporting women, underrepresented groups, and researchers from various disciplines to engage meaningfully in valorisation.
• One-size-fits-all approaches do not work. Institutions must develop tailored, flexible support systems that reflect the multiple pathways from research to societal impact. 
   

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