Academia and industry need each other. Universities provide the blue-sky and applied research – and nurture the talent pool – that will shape the future, while industry partners, from manufacturing to the creative arts, help realise the economic and societal impact of knowledge and innovation. As government funding wanes and demand for graduates who are as agile as the sectors they will enter rises, universities are increasingly reliant on this symbiosis. Industry-university partnerships – whether project-based, spin-outs or place-based – anchor regional growth and have the power to address global challenges such as climate change and inequality. This collection offers advice from around the world on how to find the right industry partner, manage work-integrated learning and harness collaboration for mutual benefit.
Academia and industry need each other. Universities provide the blue-sky and applied research – and nurture the talent pool – that will shape the future, while industry partners, from manufacturing to the creative arts, help realise the economic and societal impact of knowledge and innovation. As government funding wanes and demand for graduates who are as agile as the sectors they will enter rises, universities are increasingly reliant on this symbiosis. Industry-university partnerships – whether project-based, spin-outs or place-based – anchor regional growth and have the power to address global challenges such as climate change and inequality. This collection offers advice from around the world on how to find the right industry partner, manage work-integrated learning and harness collaboration for mutual benefit.
Sharing ideas across sectors and borders
In crucial fields such as semiconductors, universities can work with industry to streamline and accelerate progress. But knowledge exchange in one area can also provide a model for collaboration in other regions and disciplines, as these articles explain.
Industry-university partnerships to support regional growth
Clusters that bring together business, higher education institutions and industry-based expertise can capitalise on a region or country’s strengths, laying fertile ground for enterprise, attracting talented students and faculty, and keeping them in place with career opportunities. The resulting economic growth and investment can bring far-reaching benefits to an area.
How students benefit from effective industry collaboration
Hands-on, real-world experience for students is just one of the benefits of industry-university partnerships. They can also provide insight from sector experts and prompt students to consider questions around ethics and responsible innovation, as these articles make clear.
