Working group 4 - The interface between science, industry and culture: dealing with “knowledge” in the context of the digital media

The digitalization of books by commercial providers and open access to scientific texts free of charge – these are subjects that spark heated debates in feature pages and in numerous blogs.  The key issue is intellectual property and the profits that can be made by marketing it.

The subject of intellectual property protection goes hand in hand with the question of knowledge transfer from research to practical application, an equally controversial topic. Some people think it is enough to provide access to the necessary information through brochures and websites. Others point out that, strictly speaking, knowledge transfer cannot take place without a response to knowledge and the practical application of new insights.

If these two aspects are brought together, they offer an interesting area of discussion: In order to ensure that all areas of our society – industry, culture, education, science and politics – benefit from knowledge in equal measure, it is necessary to encourage knowledge transfer while protecting intellectual property. The fourth working group will cover a broad range of topics, from dealing with copyright in the digital world to “creative industries” and knowledge transfer.