What is Knowledge Mobilization?

Knowledge mobilization (KMb) brings knowledge, people and action together to create value. KMb goes far beyond the dissemination of knowledge from source to beneficiary, researchers to community. It is not just knowledge transfer, and while dynamic knowledge brokering is essential in terms of identifying stakeholders, building networks and relationships, and designing actives to nurture knowledge sharing, this is still not enough. KMb embeds knowledge generation (creation) and knowledge use within the core structure of communities and organizations (Bennet & Bennet, 2007)​.

The application of university research to the broader community can be traced back to the agricultural extension practices developed in the 19th century to support farms in adopting more effective practices and adjusting to changing social needs and conditions ( Jones & Garforth, 1997). The increased emphasis of KMb in recent years is due (in part) to the realization that the failure to use the available evidence (or knowledge) is costly and harmful – this is especially true in a health setting. Traditionally, KMb was seen as a one-way ”push” process. The ‘if I publish it, they will come” mentality has proven to be ineffective. If KMb does not happen, knowledge will simply sit on a shelf or in an academic journal.​