Summary. This paper provides a critical assessment of Galician innovation in universities of Galician (in Universities of Santiago, Coruña and Vigo) in relation to the identification of innovation, innovative behaviours and transfer between universities and business. Analysis of innovation in international area shows that collaboration universities and private enterprise can no longer be limited to informal relationships. Instead, it is necessary to implement formal mechanisms for transfer of knowledge and know-how. This research project (2006-2009) aims to survey current and innovative transfer mechanisms involving a broad range of transfer channels. Specifically, in one sample of directors of research groups. One major problem is how to make use of publicly funded R&D. Compared to North America, the average university in Europe generates far fewer inventions and patents. This is largely due to less systematic and professional management of knowledge and intellectual property by European universities. Moreover, efficient knowledge transfer in European research institutions is hindered by a range of factors including: cultural differences between the business and science communities; lack of incentives; legal barriers and fragmented markets for knowledge and technology. All of these factors adversely affect European growth and job creation. Communication From E. Commission. Brussels, 4. 4. 2007, COM (2007) 182 final.

The research group, responsible of this project, considered this preferable to running two separate surveys, the survey for directors of research groups in university, and the survey for the business. In this paper we study the first. In fact the CIT (Questionnaire for Innovation and transference) is an instrument for understanding innovation and benchmarking innovation performance between universities and business. The survey include: (1) perceptions about the relations university and community, (2) Research and Development and Innovation (R+D+I), (3) relations university and business and Public Administration, (4) and Innovation (production) and commercialisation (marketing). The questionnaire, for data relating to academic years 2005-2007, will be launched in December 2007, data will be collected regarding numerical and financial outputs for academic years 2005-2007

On the basis of the information obtained and analysed, it is aimed to -identity the most significant improvements in transfer mechanism, and place this information at the disposal of universities and private enterprise; -extract interferences for the development of training programmes that maximize the effectiveness of R+D+I transfer, and -propose structural policies regarding, training for and transfer innovation.