Knowledge translation for technology transfer: Making R&D matter to stakeholders

The paper encompasses both Research and Development by addressing how the Knowledge Translation process works to convey discoveries from concept to application, along with how the Technology Transfer process facilitates the transition from application to marketplace. The thesis is that both processes need to be explicitly linked to ensure beneficial impacts for the stakeholders involved in transforming outputs into outcomes, and for the target beneficiary stakeholders who will experience the impact of innovative devices and services. The field of Assistive Technology (AT) continues efforts to move technology-related prototypes resulting from development in the academic sector, to product commercialization within the business sector. The article describes how technology transfer can be linked to knowledge translation. This linkage is designed to increase the relevance of technology-oriented knowledge from upstream academic research, through downstream industrial development and production, and out to persons with disabilities. The linkage also provides the government sector with opportunities to conduct evidence-based project tracking and program evaluation. The relevant models, methods and measures can be applied to other fields involving technology-based innovations.