European University-Business Cooperation: Collaborating to innovate and innovating to collaborate

Transcription

1 Dr. Victoria Galan-Muros EURASHE Annual Conference Centres of cooperation striving for excellence: professional higher education and the world of work Belgrade European University-Business Cooperation: Collaborating to innovate and innovating to collaborate

2 360 of university-business cooperation (UBC) Largest study into European UBC (2011 & 2016) 1. UBC Expert and facilitator Director UIIN (NL) 2. Senior policy/management consultant Technopolis Group (UK) 3. Lecturer / trainer VU Amsterdam (NL), MUAS (DE), MBS (DE), NMMU (ZA), Adelaide U (AUS) 4. Researcher Science-to-Business Marketing Research Centre (DE) About (me)

3 Innovation is change that unlocks new value Jamie Notter INNOVATION

4 It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change Charles Darwin The Origin of the Species

5 Farming 1 (land) Industrial age 2 (labour) Knowledge society 3 (innovation) Towards a (knowledge) society

6 Where the magic happens! University-Business Cooperation (UBC) (as a way of collaborative innovation)

7 New < Radical > TECHNOLOGY Existing RESEARCH incl. IP/TECHNOLOGY (EXPLICIT) < Incremental > Ave. SME ENTREPRENEURIAL ACTIVITY PEOPLE DEVELOPMENT & EXCHANGE (TACIT) Greater UBC is necessary! Existing MARKETS New UBC is crucial for the (business) innovation development

8 Knowledge New Existing First generation university Second generation university Increase researcher capacity Ave. uni Third generation university Increase entrepreneurial capacity Increase relations with business through education Greater UBC is necessary! Low Practical application of knowledge High and UBC is also vital to develop the 3 rd generation university

9 VARIETY OF UBC ACTIVITIES

10 Education Curriculum design & delivery Lifelong learning Student mobility Research R&D Academic/staff mobility Valorisation Commercialisation Entrepreneurship Management Governance, strategic partnerships! UBC is not a separate activity incorporate it into all HEI missions! Understanding what UBC is

11 Going back to the point that

12 University-business cooperation (UBC) is essential to innovate but university-business relationships don t (naturally) work.

13 BARRIERS FOR UBC

14 1. Awareness barriers Lack of awareness on both sides of: what each other offers contact points and who to speak with especially with SMEs! Barriers of European UBC

15 2. Funding barriers Lack of funding from different sources University Business Government Barriers of European UBC

16 3. Cultural barriers Lack of alignment and understanding of: each others motivations and expectations each others languages and time horizons & bureaucracy (primarily within the HEI) Barriers of European UBC

17 4. Usability of results Lack of alignment and understanding : of what and how it should be delivered what should be done with it & lack of ability to absorb the information / technology Barriers of European UBC

18 Who benefit the most from UBC (in Europe)? 1 Students 2 Business 3 HEI 4 Society Personal Benefits from UBC g

19 DRIVERS OF UBC

20 1. Accessibility drivers Ability to access: talent, new knowledge, labs and equipment industrial facilities, networks and practical knowledge Drivers of European UBC

21 2. Relationship drivers Existence of : common trust and commitment common understanding mutual interest Drivers of European UBC

22 Strategies Structures Activities Policies Support (to enhance) UBC g

23 POLICIES Economic policies funding, grants and subsidies, stimulus packages, infrastructure, taxation concessions public seed capital; Regulative policies laws and regulations; Other policy mechanisms governance, government programs, education and training programs, public promotion programmes, and hiring policies. Policies Support (to enhance) innovation through UBC

24 STRATEGIES Top management commitment to UBC Positions created e.g. Vice Chancellor for Business Development Mission/vision including UBC Dedication of resources to support UBC Provision of incentives for academics towards UBC Inclusion of UBC as an element of academics work assessment Strategies Support (to enhance) innovation through UBC

25 STRUCTURES Technology Transfer Offices (TTOs) Business Incubators Economic Development Offices Corporate Relations Offices Career Offices Science Parks but greater importance of people within those structures! Structures Support (to enhance) innovation through UBC

26 ACTIVITIES Netwoking events, information sessions, seminars or workshops targeting academics/business or students/business interaction UBC champions Internal and external promotion of UBC Activities Support (to enhance) innovation through UBC

27 1. Academic Source of funding Informs their teaching Increases scientific productivity measured in quality / quantity of articles Accesses equipment and resources Everyone (ideally) benefits

28 1. Academic Source of funding Informs their teaching Increases scientific productivity measured in quality / quantity of articles Accesses equipment and resources 2. Business Access new discoveries, problem-solving capabilities and talented students Provides future income through product and service development Everyone (ideally) benefits

29 1. Academic Source of funding Informs their teaching Increases scientific productivity measured in quality / quantity of articles Accesses equipment and resources 3. HEI Improve relevance of research conducted transfer of knowledge and technology to society Income through third-party money 2. Business Access new discoveries, problem-solving capabilities and talented students Provides future income through product and service development Everyone (ideally) benefits

30 1. Academic 3. HEI 4. Students 2. Business Source of funding Informs their teaching Increases scientific productivity measured in quality / quantity of articles Accesses equipment and resources Improves relevance of research Transfer of knowledge and technology to society Income through third-party money Improves: relevance of study job competencies future job prospects and employability access to job market Access new discoveries, problem-solving capabilities and talented students Provides future income through product and service development Everyone (ideally) benefits

31 1. Academic Source of funding Informs their teaching Increases scientific productivity measured in quality / quantity of articles Accesses equipment and resources 3. HEI Improves relevance of research Transfer of knowledge and technology to society Income through third-party money Society 4. Students Improves: Enhances job creation relevance of study job competencies future job prospects and employability 2. Business Accesses new discoveries and problem-solving capabilities Stimulates economic growth Increases living standards, Increases productivity Increases social cohesion access to job market Provides future income through product and service development Accesses students Everyone (ideally) benefits

32 (Only) SOME CHALLENGES FOR HEIs Introduce UBC in education, research and valorisation Achieve support from top-management of HEI and institutionalise UBC () Reduce bureaucracy and improve response time Incentivise academics to engage Promote UBC and sell its benefits Improve coordination of units within HEI align supporting mechanisms Get the right people to activate the mechanisms Create and encourage relationships based on commitment and trust Focus on business awareness and small projects as a starting point Take advantage of regional strengths (and minimise weaknesses) Consider the big picture Take a long term approach (-cultural- change and impact takes time!)

33 It is the long history of humankind, those who learned to collaborate and improvise most effectively have prevailed Charles Darwin

34 I welcome your comments or questions Dr. Victoria Galan Muros