Making the Team Works : Academia - Industry Collaborations

09:00 - 09:15    Welcome to the 3rd edition of Making the Team Works

09:15 - 10:15    Collaboration with industry as a strategic asset

Today, it is quite common for universities to collaborate with industry on a project-by-project basis. While this approach has many benefits (e.g. an additional source of funding, validation of market relevance for research, achievement of KPIs), industry collaboration might be seen as questionable from a research perspective, particularly in terms of academic freedom. Although there are many different forms of industry collaboration, adopting a more strategic approach can multiply the positive effects from research, impact, and political perspectives.

10:15 - 10:45    Coffee Break

10:45 - 12:15    Bridging Industry and Research – A Business Perspective on Collaboration

This session brings together leaders from two to three industries to share how they strategically collaborate with research entities to remain competitive and accelerate innovation. From an industry standpoint, the discussion will focus on what companies seek in partnerships, how they navigate the challenges of aligning scientific and business goals, and the tangible value these collaborations add to their innovation pipelines.

12:15 - 13:30    Lunch

13:30 - 15:00    Open Innovation and the Quadruple Helix – KTTs as Ecosystem Connectors

This session will explore how companies are leveraging Open Innovation models and engaging with the quadruple helix—academia, government, civil society, and industry—to co-create solutions that are both innovative and impactful.

15:30 - 17:00    Funding as a Catalyst: Using Public Mechanisms to Support Industrial Engagement

This session explores how different funding mechanisms—ranging from regional grants to major European programmes—can be leveraged to foster effective collaborations between industry and research. The discussion will highlight successful strategies for aligning industrial needs with public funding opportunities, and how these tools can help build long-term partnerships, support co-development, and drive innovation.

17:30 - 19:00    Museum visit

19:00 - 22:00    Networking dinner

09:00 - 10:15    Exploring Collaboration Models – What Fits Where?

This interactive session will present a variety of collaboration models between TTOs, research institutions, and industry—from centralised IP offices and joint ventures to co-creation labs and consortia-based approaches. Attendees will break into small groups to reflect on the relevance, benefits, and limitations of each model in the context of their own institutions.

10:15 - 10:45    Coffee break

10:45 - 12:00    Making Collaboration Works - Tackling IP Cases Together

Hands-on session where KTTs collaborate in groups to analyse and solve intellectual property or licensing challenges, fostering peer learning.

12:00 - 13:15    Pros and Cons of Industry–Research Organisation Collaboration – An Open Debate

This interactive discussion will delve into the real-world challenges and benefits of collaboration between industry and research organisations. Participants will explore what works well—and what doesn’t—when aligning differing timelines, incentives, and expectations. The session will provide space for honest reflections on trust-building, IP negotiation, funding constraints, and cultural differences, aiming to surface lessons learned and strategies to enhance future collaborations.

13:15 - 13:30    Warp up and closing

13:30 - 14:30    Lunch and farewell