Collaborative research is pivotal in achieving transitions

The platform was developed together with universities of applied sciences and now that it is in place, researchers can more easily cooperate or build on previous research outside their own institution. This is the only way to jointly tackle major challenges such as the consequences of an ageing population or climate change.

What is the importance of practice-based research for the major transitions, and how does Publinova contribute to cooperation between sectors? We asked Jouke de Vries, chair of the Board of Governors of the University of Groningen (RUG), Saskia te Velde, programme manager at the Knowledge Centre Healthy & Sustainable Living and senior researcher at the Research Group Innovation of Occupational Health Care at Utrecht University of Applied Sciences (HU), and Jorick Scheerens, programme director of Stichting Practoraten.nl.

"The interesting thing is that the research of universities of applied sciences and universities is coming together more and more, and the MBO is also joining in," De Vries continues. "For all major transitions, you need all three of those types of institutions. We therefore see that cooperation is increasing. The solar race car is a great example. It is made by wo, hbo and mbo students."

Hybrid departments

The RUG already works extensively with universities of applied sciences and MBO. De Vries gives some examples. "On the Greenwise Campus, we work together with the university of applied sciences NHL Stenden, Drenthe College, the province of Drenthe and the municipality of Emmen. For example, on renewable plastics to tackle pollution. And with the Hanze we have hybrid departments in the field of energy transition with professors, lecturers and sometimes a practor from the MBO. The RUG does fundamental research on hydrogen. The universities of applied sciences investigate how we get hydrogen to homes and companies, and then you need MBO technicians for that."

A platform like Publinova promotes this kind of cooperation, says De Vries. "Via Publinova, researchers from universities, colleges and mbo can find each other more easily. This is important, because we don't want a merger - that takes too much energy, but on themes we can cooperate very well. And if the research is published on Publinova open access, researchers, companies and citizens can take note of it and build on it."

All universities of applied sciences will be buyers of Publinova by 1 July 2024 and can be connected. With this development, it is expected that in the coming time, more results of applied research from universities of applied sciences will become available on Publinova. Eventually, this will give the entire higher education sector a place on this platform.

Apart from being a researcher, Saskia is also programme manager at HU's Research Centre for Healthy and Sustainable Living and sees that collaboration between sectors is increasingly a prerequisite for grant applications. "It is therefore important that we know what we are doing about each other. Publinova can help with this."

Products, apps, prototypes

Practice-oriented research produces not only articles but also other research results, Saskia outlines. "Think of manuals, apps, products, prototypes and technologies, such as sensors. We can publish articles on platforms like Research Gate, but for showcasing products, apps, toolkits and prototypes, Publinova is essential. At a meeting of Regieorgaan SIA recently, I heard that technical universities are also interested in publishing these kinds of research results on Publinova. Because in platforms like the aforementioned Research Gate, these products cannot be included."

Saskia thinks it is important that the research results of universities of applied sciences, but also of other institutions funded with public money, are published open access. "Everyone should be able to benefit from what we develop with public money. Open science also contributes to the transparency and quality of research. For example, you can share your research design before you start your research."

Possible partners

It is important that research projects and results are visible to potential research partners, says Saskia. "Our knowledge centre wants to cooperate with municipalities, GGDs, professional and welfare organisations, and companies developing new technology. On Publinova, we can show what we are doing."

But Publinova will only work well if more universities of applied sciences participate, Saskia believes. That is what is being worked hard on now. "Publinova must be well populated and links with the research registration systems of the universities of applied sciences must work better. The basic principle is that what researchers put in the registration system automatically enters Publinova. Unfortunately, that link does not always work well yet."

"Furthermore, Publinova should be better known in the outside world. For example, through a campaign." Board members of universities of applied sciences have now committed to Publinova. Now is the time to ensure that first those things are taken care of, which are necessary for Publinova to work well. "We can only campaign when the links are working properly and Publinova is well stocked," he says.