Building stronger partnerships with industry requires dedicated contact, understanding

“The future of successful economies and prospering free societies will very much depend on a new type of collaboration between various players – and universities are an essential part of that,” writes Feridun Hamdullahpur, President of the University of Waterloo, in Times Higher Education. In order to forge stronger ties between universities and industry, Hamdullahpur outlines several the key points of consideration. In particular, the article discusses the importance of having an “easy-to-find” point of contact or dedicated staff who are capable of directing the company based on its needs; and the importance of gaining an understanding of the differences in culture, language, and expectations of both industry and academe. Hamdullahpur concludes by noting that well-managed partnerships between academics, industry, and other partners “allow innovation to flourish and all participants to reap benefits.” Times Higher Education