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:-
