Abstract:Tech companies benefit from an open innovation model. Instead of relying solely on internal technical staff to innovate, companies frequently build a wider ecosystem by establishing collaborative relationships with university researchers. Collaboration programs are often a cost-effective way to catalyze innovation, attract new talent, and improve a company's reputation.
Universities benefit from an open innovation model by connecting with companies to attract additional funding, increase focus on real-world challenges, influence market/product direction, and incubate employment opportunities for their graduates.
This tutorial explores collaboration techniques, benefits, and potential challenges. We will present collaboration approaches used by companies and universities – and explore the benefits and failure modes of company/university engagement. Three areas to be discussed will include: choosing the right collaboration model, communicating to stakeholders on the progress of collaboration (outcomes), and managing intellectual property issues including those related to open source.
The tutorial will examine the perspective of both companies and universities through case studies - and conclude with a facilitated discussion to help participants develop collaboration road-maps and set expectations for partnership outcomes.
Program:
- Introduction and overview - Agile strategies for developing effective collaborations
- Company perspectives: strategies and desired outcomes
- How to keep intellectual property issues from blocking company collaboration and “open innovation”
- University perspectives: strategies and desired outcomes
- How to keep intellectual property issues from blocking university collaboration and “open innovation”
- Student perspectives on university-company collaborations
Learning Outcomes:- Increased awareness of the value of collaboration in the context of universities, companies, governments, and students
- Evaluation of the differences in company and university perspectives on research constraints on funding and decision-making from university/company perspectives
- Increased understanding of mechanisms to foster and support company/university collaborations
- Discussion and understanding of next steps, ability to develop road-maps to increase the value of company/university collaborations
