Valorisation cards

What are valorisation cards?

Valorisation cards are a systematic way of reporting on valorisation (utilisation of knowledge) based on a specific premise about valorisation as embodied in the so-called 4D valorisation model. The 4D valorisation model is based on the following definition:

“Knowledge valorisation is defined as the process of creating value from knowledge by making it suitable or available for use in the economic or social sphere and translating it into competitive products, services, processes and new business.”

Who, when, where and how research knowledge is valorised depends on the organisational level, the research field, the parties involved and the research phase. It is therefore not advisable to develop a single set of indicators that can be applied in every situation.

The 4D valorisation model identifies four dimensions of valorisation:

1. Party: multiple parties are responsible for valorisation: the knowledge provider (research university, university of applied sciences), the knowledge user (company, industry, government, civil society group) as well as the intermediary party (research funding organisation, government).
2. Aggregation level: within a party, responsibility for valorisation is vested at different levels: from the institutional level of university, company or funding organisation through the middle level of departments or programmes to the practical level of the researcher or innovation project.
3. Discipline/research area: valorisation takes place in all disciplines and research domains and in both monodisciplinary and multidisciplinary research. For each discipline, there are appropriate forms of valorisation: from patents, spin-offs and advice on new legislation to compiling an exhibition catalogue.
4. Phase: in the valorisation process, awareness and interaction are critical at all phases of research – from mission and policy formulation, research development, agenda-setting, implementation and dissemination to application.

Each valorisation situation is seen as a different cross-section of the 4D valorisation model. A tailored selection of relevant indicators has to be formulated for each specific situation; these indicators are shown on a valorisation card. In the process, a clear position is also taken on the indicators:

• Valorisation cannot be measured and compared by a process of simple counts. Indeed, counts do not provide sufficient insight into the valorisation process and do not show what value is created.
• A combination of quantitative and qualitative data is needed to arrive at an informed opinion.
• Every situation is unique and depends on the context. Therefore, comparing performance between different situations is neither meaningful nor relevant.

How do you use valorisation cards?
On each valorisation card, the same three dimensions are defined, namely: research area, party and aggregation level. These are defined in advance, for example creative industry as a research area, a university of applied sciences as a party and a knowledge centre or research group as an aggregation level. The indicators are presented on the fourth dimension, the research phase. A valorisation card for a technical university is shown here as an illustration.

The 4D valorisation model shows that it is important to consider the characteristics of the particular situation. Mission and policy are therefore good starting points when developing a valorisation card. What do we want to achieve in terms of valorisation? What is our responsibility? What can we influence? What are our goals for achieving the mission? And what strategies will we use to achieve the goals and mission? What kind of activities do we undertake, how do we organise the research, with whom do we collaborate, what do we want to achieve and who is our target group? How do we publicise our results? Answers to these kinds of questions lead to relevant indicators for valorisation.

What is the origin of valorisation cards?
Valorisation cards are described in a 2011 report entitled ‘Valuable. Indicators for valorisation’ (Waardevol. Indicatoren voor valorisatie). This report describes an explorative study by the Rathenau Institute, Technology Foundation STW and Technopolis into the possibilities of using indicators for knowledge valorisation.