Making university-industry collaborations work

In our popular post Busting five myths of university-industry collaboration the key points are that collaborations work when the research addresses a particular need in industry and there is effective communication between all stakeholders.
To address the needs of national economic development, university-industry collaborations are vital. According to research carried out by Science|Business Innovation Board AISBL, a Belgian not-for-profit scientific association, these collaborations need to move from specific projects to strategic relationships. But how do you make a shift from project focused to strategic focus?

Here are nine key learning points suggested in the report, to help your institution achieve this shift: –

1. University leadership is vital

2. Built-in flexibility works best in long-term strategic partnership

3. Develop the strategy based on a shared vision

4. Choose leaders who cross cultural boundaries between academia and industry

5. Facilitate dialogue and cross-fertilisation of ideas

6. Do not get too focused on intellectual property

7. Promote a multidisciplinary approach to research and learning.

8. Don’t focus on metrics as an outcome of a successful partnership.

9. Redefine the role of the research university as a source of competence and problem-solving for society.

Click here to download the full report which includes case studies on successful collaborations:-

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