University-industry collaboration has a long history. However, it is becoming increasingly important due to the rapidly changing environment in the workforce and technology. Governments, universities, and industries are putting more emphasis on this as well. Despite the benefits of such collaborations, it still lacks a mature business model. While there is a lot that can be said about the benefits of these collaborations, we leave them for another time and here simply share a few tips on how both universities and industries can foster these collaborations.
- Be clear on your goals and needs: Communicating your needs and motivation from the collaboration is the first thing that universities and industries must be clear about them.
- Be open: This seems to be obvious, but it is not. Be open to other suggestions and listen to what others have to offer. It is good practice to think critically and discuss matters together.
- Understand the limitations of others: Often research institutions and industries have different processes for communication, paperwork, etc. Be aware of and discuss them. It is recommended to prepare specific instructions for such collaboration.
- Set a senior person and an admin responsible for managing the project: projects can take months and sometimes years to accomplish and may involve quite a bit of paperwork. Both sides should have a commitment and a dedicated person to follow up on any matters that it may arise. Also, it is necessary to have a senior person involved in any decision that may require discussion and decisions at higher levels.
- Decide on your KPI and evaluate your partnership: define KPI for your engagement and evaluate them as you go and at the end of milestones. Identify any possible bottlenecks and communicate them with partners to pave the way for success.