Deriving Value from Industry-University Partnerships: A Case Study of the Advanced Engineering Materials Centre

Abstract

:This article presents a case study of an industry-university partnership and identifies benefits to participating companies and to the university. Engineering managers in both academia and industry can use this article to gain an understanding of the value of industry-university partnerships. Twenty-seven research and development (R&D) projects at the University of Alberta's Advanced Engineering Materials (UAAEM) Centre were evaluated. The projects were sponsored jointly by government and private sector companies. One important finding is that both university engineering researchers and engineering managers from industry can derive valuable but different benefits from the same research project. Another significant finding is that government investment can attract other investments to the projects. The research conducted for this report has revealed that UAAEM's R&D projects have significant positive impacts to the related companies, as well as to the university professors, and students. Government seed capital of $170,000 attracted industry investment of $580,000, indicating leverage of 4.4.