UVic launches new research partnerships & knowledge mobilization unit

On April 2, the University of Victoria officially launched its new Research Partnerships and Knowledge Mobilization (RPKM) unit in UVic's Office of Research Services.

Led by director Brent Sternig, formerly of UVic Industry Partnerships (UVic IP), RPKM is a single coordinated research support unit—a "one-stop shop"—for brokering collaborative research opportunities, supporting knowledge mobilization and developing research agreements between the UVic community and valued partners in government, industry, community-based organizations and other academic institutions.

The new unit enhances the good work already done by UVic's research partnership offices—UVic IP, Knowledge Mobilization (KM) and Office of Community-Based Research (OCBR)—in linking researchers with community partners, developing innovative ideas for industry, community and government partners, and addressing important social, economic, environmental and cultural challenges. These services are now housed within RPKM as a single and accessible point of contact.

As of Apr. 2, the OCBR is closed, with its suite of research support services transferred to RPKM. The research initiatives led by OCBR are expected to continue in a new inter-faculty research centre led by UVic’s Faculty of Human and Social Development and Faculty of Social Sciences. A research partnerships advisory committee—composed of key research, industry, non-profit and community-based stakeholders—will be established to guide and provide advice to the new unit.

RPKM is part of a thoughtful and comprehensive approach toward meeting UVic's commitment to be one of Canada's most civically engaged research universities, an institution dedicated to improving society through research and creative activities.

Please visit the new RPKM website www.uvic.ca/rpkm for more details.