Knowledge Valorisation Centres
The Knowledge Valorization Centres (KVCs) established within the IMPACT-Campus project form a coordinated macro-regional infrastructure designed to strengthen the capacity of European higher education institutions to transform knowledge into measurable societal, economic, environmental and policy value. Anchored in the European Commission’s framework for knowledge valorisation (Council of the European Union, 2022) and aligned with the strategic orientations of EU innovation, digital and green agendas (European Commission, 2019, 2020a, 2020b, 2022a, 2022b), the KVC network functions as an interconnected system that bridges academic expertise with regional development priorities and transnational collaboration.
Each KVC operates as an institutional hub embedded within its host university, providing structured pathways for capacity building, entrepreneurship support, cross-sectoral cooperation and regional impact generation. Their establishment is guided by the Innovation Valorisation Architecture Protocol (IVAP), developed by DiTELC Switzerland, which provides the conceptual and operational foundation for designing, implementing and sustaining valorisation structures across diverse institutional and territorial contexts (Cherniavska & DiTELC Switzerland, 2024). IVAP enables a shift from traditional models of knowledge sharing toward a systemic logic of valorisation, where knowledge is actively mobilised, applied and co-created with stakeholders.
The Charter sets out shared mission statements, operational principles, governance standards and collaboration mechanisms that ensure coherence across the macro-regional KVC network. While each Centre operates within its own institutional mandates and national regulations, all adhere to common norms of quality, transparency, inclusiveness, ethical responsibility and evidence-based decision-making. The Charter also establishes mechanisms for interoperability, including joint events, shared methodologies, cross-border mentoring and the IMPACT-Campus digital knowledge platform.
The KVC network collectively contributes to the project’s measurable targets: training over 1,300 students and staff, supporting 14 start-ups, ensuring inclusive participation with at least 40% representation from marginalised groups, and creating 90 strategic partnerships across sectors and borders. These outcomes reflect a broader ambition to build a sustainable, resilient and pan-European valorisation ecosystem capable of addressing the challenges of digital transformation, green transition and regional development.
In its essence, the KVC Charter formalises a shared commitment among partner institutions to build enduring institutional infrastructures for knowledge valorisation, strengthen Europe’s innovation capacity and contribute to long-term societal benefit. By establishing a unified operational and ethical framework, the Charter consolidates the IMPACT-Campus vision into a coherent and scalable model for future European collaboration.
Knowledge Valorisation Centres
International Balkan University - Skopje
International University of Human Development “Ukraine”
„CEPS-Center for Business Studies“ Kiseljak
University FINRA Tuzla
PAR University of Applied Sciences
ETKÄ°M from Türkiye, Ministry of National Education
University of Life Sciences “King Mihai” I from TimiÈ™oara
Poltava University of Economics and Trade
UNINETTUNO
Kyiv National University of Technologies and Design
Mediterranean School of Business
University of Montenegro
Each Knowledge Valorization Centre (KVC) is formally established within its host institution in 2025 under the framework of the IMPACT-Campus project supported by the EIT HEI Initiative. The creation of the Centres follows a structured and institutionally endorsed process, ensuring that each KVC becomes an integral and visible component of the university’s innovation architecture rather than a temporary project unit. As institutional nodes, the KVCs operate at the interface between higher education, industry, public authorities and civil society, enabling the translation of academic knowledge into societal, economic and environmental value. Their establishment is closely aligned with regional smart specialisation strategies, the priorities of the European Research Area, and long-term development goals relevant to the territories they serve.
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Host institutions commit to providing each KVC with formal institutional recognition, appropriate physical and digital infrastructure, and access to administrative, academic and managerial support systems. This includes visibility within organisational communication channels, integration into internal governance structures and alignment with faculty and university-wide strategic documents. Through these commitments, valorisation activities become structurally embedded within the institution, ensuring continuity, legitimacy and capacity to attract additional partnerships and resources beyond the project duration.
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The conceptual model, framework and methodology for the creation and operation of KVCs have been developed by DiTELC Switzerland – Swiss Center of Excellence in Digital Transformation and Ecosystem Leadership, the intellectual owner of the IMPACT-Campus concept. This foundational framework includes the Innovation Valorisation Architecture Protocol (IVAP), the operational logic of distributed Knowledge Valorization Centres, and the methodological tools for training, entrepreneurship support, ecosystem engagement and regional impact generation. By adopting this shared model, all partner institutions commit to a harmonised yet adaptable approach that respects local autonomy while ensuring interoperability and coherence across the macro-regional KVC network.
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Through this combination of institutional hosting, strategic alignment and methodological coherence, the KVCs are positioned as long-term engines of innovation, collaboration and capacity building within their respective institutions and regions.