The “Knowledge transfer to improve marine economy in regions from the Atlantic area” (KIMERAA) project aimed to develop economic niches of excellence through the creation of strong linkages between firms and science organisations, focusing the marine sciences and maritime activities and contributing to the progress of Atlantic regional economies. To achieve this goal, it is necessary to facilitate channels for knowledge transfer across the Atlantic Area regions, linking the different institutional actors that can support the development of the Marine Economy. The project tries to tackle the transnational problem, known as the European Paradox, the difficulty of European research to be transformed in profitable high added-value products. KIMERAA will promote a deeper understanding in maritime clusters, the innovation actors and institutions in Atlantic Area. Competencies and services catalogues in Marine Sciences and Clusters will be developed in all partner organizations to create a transnational web tool to match research capabilities with technology and product demands. Finally a European Network of Knowledge Transfer in Atlantic Area (ENKTAA) is going to be promoted in order to give sustainability to results beyond its ending. On the KIMERAA approach, mechanisms of KT refer to the creation of spin-offs, to the licensing of activities or to sponsored/collaborative projects, and are decisive to consolidate a network of partners that can create robust niches of excellence in maritime clusters that will impact significantly on the growth of regional economies in the Atlantic Area.
