Researchers - Build Your Plan for Knowledge Translation and Transfer (KTT)

Are you applying for a research project under one of OMAFRA's research programs? If so, you need to include a knowledge translation and transfer (KTT) plan in your application.

Our following information will help you develop your knowledge translation and transfer plan:

• Why build a KTT Plan?
• How to build a successful KTT plan

Here are some tools and tips to help you build your knowledge translation and transfer plan:

• Template for a KTT plan
• Checklist for a KTT plan
• Download a KTT Plan Toolkit (PDF 456 KB)
• Evaluation form for a KTT plan (not available at this time)
  

Why build a KTT plan?

Knowledge translation and transfer (KTT) is a new focus of OMAFRA's research funding programs. A KTT plan is important to the OMAFRA research funding process for the following reasons:

KTT is a:

• technique used to accelerate research into use for the benefit of Ontario's agriculture, food and rural communities
• time tested method. Starting in the 19th and early 20th centuries, the concept of agricultural 'extension' successfully collected, preserved and distributed agricultural science knowledge. The international development field uses similar approaches.
• reflection of current priorities. Over the last ten years, research has become more focused on addressing real world problems.
• tool to broaden the impact of research. It is a method that bridges gaps between research and each of:
  • programs
  • policy
  • commercialization

How to build a successful KTT Plan

Deliberate planning is key to building a successful KTT plan. The plan should be flexible so it can evolve as the research progress evolves. The plan should also emphasize collaboration, partnership and networks. It should embrace all potential audiences and approaches of sharing knowledge. Involvement of the end user during the various research stages and the KTT process is important; the earlier the better.

Successful KTT plans also require dedicated resources. A knowledge broker (like OMAFRA staff) can help you share knowledge among researchers and users. In the most successful KTT plans, the culture around the research and its users is open, trusting, positive and sharing. There is opportunity for effective knowledge exchange between research users and researchers. Learn more on the KTT Best Practices page.

Aids to a successful plan

The following five questions will assist you in building a successful KTT plan.

1. What?
   What knowledge (or message) about your research will you transfer to users?
2. To whom?
   Who would benefit from the knowledge produced by your research?
3. By whom?
   Who should transfer this knowledge to users?
4. How?
   What processes will you use to transfer this knowledge to users?
5. Impact?
   What is the expected impact of the your KTT efforts?
   

The above questions were adapted from work by John Lavis. We have incorporated them into the KTT Plan Template and KTT Plan Checklist documents for researchers.

KTT is becoming an integral part of research funding programs. Many research funding organizations now request a form of knowledge translation and transfer plan and related budget to accompany research proposals for funding.

More Information

• The "Learn More about KTT" page contains more links to useful information about KTT (such as KTT model, related terms, the role of a knowledge broker). The links on the left sidebar, under "This Section" also provide more information about knowledge translation and transfer.
• Return to KTT main page