DIFUSE handbook: a guide to transnational collaboration in knowledge

The European Union sees its greatest potential for economic and social development
through the knowledge-based economy. This was set out in the Lisbon Agenda agreed by the Heads of the Member State Government in 2000. Production and transfer of knowledge is the core business of universities, traditionally through the activities of research and teaching, but over the past decade especially, a third stream of activity has emerged, namely, pro-active involvement in the transfer of
knowledge for wealth creation and regional economic development. This has led to a huge expansion in knowledge transfer activities.