Knowledge Transfer (KT) is the systematic process of moving expertise, skills, and critical insights—both explicit knowledge (documented data, patents) and tacit knowledge (unwritten, experiential skills)—from one entity to another. While often associated with academia-to-industry licensing, it broadly includes vital intra-firm diffusion across departments or through mergers.

In the industry, effective KT is the engine of innovation and competitive advantage. It ensures that specialized knowledge doesn't reside in silos; instead, it's quickly applied to optimize processes, accelerate new product development, and enhance organizational learning, including upskilling of the workforce.