In addition to research and education, universities are finding it increasingly important to actively shape social developments based on academic and scientific findings: the so-called "third mission". The idea is that transferring academic and scientific expertise to society and to the business community will help provide innovative solutions to meet existing and future challenges head-on. Jointly organized by Johannes Kepler University, the Linz University of Art, and ACADEMIA SUPERIOR, the fourth annual Crossing Art & Science symposium addressed the "third mission". Christopher Lindinger, JKU Vice-Rector for Innovation and Researchers, explained: "Universities serve as an example by practicing the responsibility of knowledge-transfer to support society. Universities make discoveries and provide insight and uniformity doesn't cut it; this is why we support programs and infrastructure that give people from different worlds an opportunity to meet on campus. The Open Innovation Center is also a place that facilitates communication between companies and researchers." Lindinger is self-critical of universities' responsibility to provide more academic transparency to the public and added: "In this regard, we can't do enough."

The History of Knowledge Transfer
At this year's Upper Austrian state exhibition "Arbeit.Wohlstand.Macht.", Dr. Herta Neiß (JKU Institute for Social and Economic History) provided a historical example to show just how research findings can be presented in order to appeal to all age groups in a wider public. The economist added: "How can you get people interested in a topic? This is always the question at the start of how thinking about how to successfully disseminate findings, especially ideas that needs to be sustainable."

The symposium was held at the JKU’s Open Innovation Center (Linz Institute of Technology). Manager Elisabeth Ulbrich MA MSc., provided attendees with information about the OIC before the event and remarked: "This center for knowledge transfer pools expertise from academia and science, creating an ecosystem that supports innovation."