Knowledge transfer: the graduate experience of the FUSION programme in Island of Ireland food companies

With the move of advanced economies from a resource-based to a knowledge-based production, many national governments promote knowledge transfer between universities and business. Knowledge transfer is about exchanging ideas, research results, experiences and skills, and includes technology transfer. A good example of this is seen in Inter TradeIreland’s FUSION programme, which supports the development of businesses on the island of Ireland by transferring and embedding knowledge on a cross-border basis between academia and industry. Whilst people are recognised as an effective technology transfer mechanism to industry, the role of a graduate as knowledge carrier needs to be better understood. Factors affecting knowledge transfer in food companies on the island of Ireland through the FUSION programme were investigated. From the 30 FUSION projects involving food companies for the period 2001-2007, 18 in partnership with either the University of Ulster or St. Angela’s Food Technology Centre were selected. In November 2008, the graduates from 16 of these small-to-medium sized food enterprises completed a qualitative questionnaire on their expectations and experiences of the FUSION programme at the pre-employment, induction, start-up, mid-point and end-point stages. Individual responses were analysed to identify key themes. All graduates reported career advancement, professional development, management experience and linkage to the knowledge centre as positive benefits. Key areas identified for improvement included greater graduate networking, and more specifics in defined projects, closely linked to the company development plan. The FUSION programme support structure enhances the ability of graduates to meet the needs of their company employers, and provides a very positive knowledge transfer experience for graduates in the island of Ireland food sector. The reasons for graduate movement on completion of a minority of such FUSION projects and the resulting impact on knowledge utilisation within the companies would merit further investigation.