Knowledge-based academic and educational ecosystem

Abstract

In this article, we examine the implementation of new innovative operation model in the Institute of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing, Research Institute of Measuring and Modeling for the Built Environment at Aalto University, and in the School of Civil Engineering and Building Services of the Helsinki Metropolia University of Applied Sciences. The Academy of Finland has selected the Centre of Excellence in Laser Scanning Research, which is represented by the authors, to represent for its part the highest end of research in Finland for the period of 20142019. The need for novel operating models, innovations, multidisciplinary expertise and the transfer and combination of knowledge have required several connecting links to attain this. The approach has evolved to depend on the planned utilization of the cross-disciplinary expertise of the ecosystem and the additional employment of coordination and orchestration. The challenge is to additionally enable teaching and research to benefit fields that are tangential to one’s own, also in the cross-disciplinary context. It is equally important to be able to focus on the essential – scientific impact and the ability of research, development and innovation activity to influence both society and industry. Through orchestration and partnerships it is possible to create networks that possess enough critical mass and expertise to attain results of international level. The ability of these networks to exert an impact is reached by working with different enterprises to develop novel methods that are additionally applicable as product concepts for companies and transfer knowledge to Finnish companies. Within an academic ecosystem we have developed methods concerning e.g. orchestration, new forums, publication culture, best practices, knowledge flows, open innovatios, and knowledge sharing using the Triple Helix model (collaboration between academia – industry – public sector) and the Knowledge Triangle approach (synergy between research – education – innovation).