As part of the implementation of the IMPACT-Campus Project: Knowledge Valorization Centres for Sustainable Entrepreneurship and Digital Transformation, which aims to create a network of Knowledge Valorization Centers (KVCs) located in European higher education institutions (HEIs), KNUTD, as the project coordinator, is improving the mechanisms of knowledge dissemination for sustainable entrepreneurship and digital transformations through the corresponding center.

The Knowledge Valorization Center of Kyiv National University of Technology and Design is a structural unit of Kyiv National University of Technology and Design, created to transform the results of educational, research and innovation activities into tangible socio-economic value.

The center’s activities are embedded in the regional environment, characterized by a high level of human capital and talent development, as well as a developing ecosystem of startups and digital technologies. The university has a powerful laboratory base for scientific research in accordance with the ideas generated by students (Fig. 1).

Figure 1. Laboratory base for scientific research at KNUTD

The Center was officially established in August 2025 as part of the IMPACT-Campus project: Knowledge Valorization Centers for Sustainable Entrepreneurship and Digital Transformation, funded by the EIT Higher Education Initiative.

Within the IMPACT-Campus network, the Center participates in joint educational, training and acceleration programs; exchanges experience, methodologies and tools for knowledge valorization; supports the mobility of students, teachers and experts; and contributes to joint research, pilot initiatives and innovative experiments.

The project was presented at the KNUTD conference and at meetings of the university's academic circles (Fig. 2).

Figure 2. Presentation of the project and the center at KNUTD events

Within the framework of the University’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, the Center promotes the development of a startup culture among students and faculty; serves as a platform for the creation, development, and acceleration of startups and spin-offs; supports the commercialization of research results and creative projects; and establishes mechanisms for cooperation between the university and business. The Center’s activities align with the KNUTD Development Strategy and contribute to the University's institutional transformation into an entrepreneurial and innovation-oriented higher education institution.

The Center’s internal governance model is based on the principles of shared leadership, agreed with the faculty leadership, with the active participation of faculty and students, and in close cooperation with the Dean’s Office and the University’s administration. The Center is authorized to initiate pilot projects, experimental educational formats, and institutional changes in accordance with the goals of the IMPACT-Campus project.

The CECs function as hubs for entrepreneurship, digital transformation and inclusion, addressing societal and economic challenges in line with the EIT HEI initiative, the European Green Deal and the Digital Europe Programme. The project provides universities with the tools, infrastructure and methodologies to act as innovation engines that impact society and institutions. By implementing technology transfer systems, interdisciplinary collaboration frameworks and entrepreneurship strategies, the CECs align Smart Specialisation Strategies with local, national and European innovation programmes, addressing climate change, the digital skills gap and socio-economic inequalities. The initiative reaches out to marginalised groups – women, youth, veterans, and people with disabilities – through programmes that promote equal access to innovation, mentoring, and entrepreneurial opportunities, fostering diversity in ecosystems, reflecting the priorities of EIT Culture & Creativity and EIT Digital. IMPACT-Campus is developing a network of KVCs that integrate cutting-edge technologies, including artificial intelligence, augmented/virtual reality, and blockchain, into operational strategies.

29.08.2025