Industry-academia Collaboration Research Articles

Cure as a treatment target in rheumatoid arthritis and systemic sclerosis—achievable aim or mission impossible? FOREUM stimulates new industry-academia collaboration

Cure as a treatment target in rheumatoid arthritis and systemic sclerosis—achievable aim or mission impossible? FOREUM stimulates new industry-academia collaboration

Explore Innovation and Practice of Collaborative Training Mode for Vocational Education Teachers Based on Modern Industrial College

The contemporary vocational education landscape is rapidly evolving, necessitating an innovative approach in the preparation of vocational education teachers. Central to this transformation is the integration of collaborative practices within training modalities to meet the changing demands of modern industries. This study presents an innovative collaborative training mode for vocational education teachers, pioneered by the Modern Industrial College framework. Investigating the proficiency requirements of teachers within the context of contemporary industrial advancements, this model emphasizes an amalgamation of industry-academia collaboration, multidisciplinary teaching competencies, and a curriculum responsive to technological innovation. Through a methodical examination that qualitative analyses, this research validates the effectiveness of the proposed training mode in enhancing teacher readiness and adaptability to industrial evolutions. The study concludes with a comprehensive set of recommendations tailored to policy-makers, educational institutions, and industries that aspire to uplift the standards of vocational education. These guidelines are poised to facilitate a robust platform for vocational teacher training that aligns closely with the needs of the modern workforce and the imperatives of industrial growth.

Navigating the Nexus of Artificial Intelligence and Renewable Energy for the Advancement of Sustainable Development Goals

The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into renewable energy and sustainability represents a transformative approach toward achieving sustainable development goals (SDGs), especially SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), and SDG 13 (Climate Action). This study utilized the PRISMA framework to conduct a systematic review, focusing on the role of AI in renewable energy and sustainable development. This research utilized Scopus’s curated AI research area, which employs text mining to refine AI concepts into unique keywords. Further refinement via the All Science Journals Classification system and SDG-mapping filters narrowed the focus to publications relevant to renewable energy and SDGs. By employing the BERTopic modeling approach, our study identifies major topics, such as enhancing wind speed forecasts, performance analysis of fuel cells, energy management in elective vehicles, solar irradiance prediction, optimizing biofuel production, and improving energy efficiency in buildings. AI-driven models offer promising solutions to address the dynamic challenges of sustainable energy. Insights from academia-industry collaborations indicate that such partnerships significantly accelerate sustainable-energy transitions, with a focus on AI-driven energy storage, grid management, and renewable-energy forecasting. A global consensus on the critical role of investing in technology-driven solutions for energy sustainability was underscored by the relationship between funding data and global R&D spending patterns. This study serves as a resource for practitioners to harness AI technologies for renewable energy, where for example, AI’s accurate wind speed predictions can increase wind farm efficiency, highlighting the necessity of innovation and collaboration for sustainable development.

Measuring the mediating role of quality education for ensuring employability skills: An analysis of higher education student perception in Bangladesh.

The present study employs a quantitative approach to measure the student perception of the direct and mediating effect of quality education for ensuring employability skills in higher education students of Bangladesh. The study was conducted on 154 undergraduate and graduate students at a Private University in Bangladesh, through a cross-sectional survey using a structured data questionnaire. The multilevel measurement and structural model, which was based on the constructs of quality education, employability skills of students, course structure, institutional policy, and physical aspects, was analysed using Partial Least Squares modelling with SmartPLS 4. The aim was to identify the employability skills that are present among higher education students in Bangladesh through student perception and explore the mediating role of quality education in shaping these skills. The findings suggest a significant gap between the skills taught in private universities, and the industry requirements of Bangladesh, which highlights the urgency for administrators and policy-makers to act fast. physical aspects have a positive influence on quality education and employability skills, but course structure and policy show less direct impact. Moreover, quality education is a crucial mediator for only the factors that match a direct effect. This proves that higher education students in Bangladesh may not have acquired the technical knowledge required by the industry. However, the present study was conducted on undergraduate and graduate students at a single private university, thus acknowledging the need to diversify the population sample in future studies for enhanced generalizability. The implications of these results extend to educational policymakers, institutions, and stakeholders, therefore emphasizing the need for curriculum enhancement, industry-academia collaboration, and policy reforms.

Feasibility of Using Ferronickel Slag as a Sustainable Alternative Aggregate in Hot Mix Asphalt

Ferronickel slag (FNS) is a byproduct produced during ferronickel alloy manufacturing, primarily used in the manufacturing of stainless steel and iron alloys. This material is produced by cooling molten slag with water or air, posing significant disposal challenges, as improper storage in industrial yards can lead to environmental contamination. This study investigates the chemical and mineralogical characteristics of reduction ferronickel slag (RFNS) and its potential use as an alternative aggregate in hot mix asphalt (HMA). The research is based on the practical application of HMA containing RFNS in an experimental area, specifically the parking lot used by buses transporting employees of Anglo American, located at the Codemin Industrial Unit in Niquelândia, Goiás, Central Brazil. Chemical analysis revealed that RFNS primarily consists of MgO, Fe2O3, and SiO2, which are elements with minimal environmental impact. The lack of significant calcium content minimizes concerns about expansion issues commonly associated with calcium-rich slags. The X-ray diffractogram indicates a predominantly crystalline structure with minerals like Laihunite and Magnetite, which enhances wear and abrasion resistance. HMA containing 40% RFNS was tested using the Marshall methodology, and a small experimental area was subsequently constructed. The HMA containing RFNS met regulatory specifications and technological controls, achieving an average resilient modulus value of 6323 MPa. Visual inspections conducted four years later confirmed that the pavement remained in excellent condition, validating RFNS as a durable and effective alternative aggregate for asphalt mixtures. The successful application of RFNS not only demonstrates its potential for local road paving near industrial areas but also underscores the importance of sustainable waste management solutions. This research highlights the value of academia–industry collaboration in advancing environmentally responsible practices and reinforces the contribution of RFNS to enhancing local infrastructure and promoting a more sustainable future.

Design Project Classroom: Fostering Industry-Ready Industrial Designers through Academic-Industry Collaboration

As the demands of the job market continue to evolve, it becomes imperative for educational institutions to equip students with the necessary skills and competencies to thrive in their respective industries. This article explores the implementation of a design project classroom as an innovative approach to preparing students for the job market, specifically in industrial design. The research employs the method of participant observation combined with interviews to gain valuable insights from industry professionals and student participants. Collaboration with industries is integral to this research, where it enables students to engage directly with real-world design challenges and obtain expert guidance. By leveraging the expertise and resources of these partnerships, this project aims to bridge the gap between academic knowledge and industry expectations. The results of this study showcase several key elements that students need to master before graduating, identified through feedback from both students and mentoring companies. The findings underscore the significance of hands-on experience, interdisciplinary collaboration, and industry engagement in preparing students for successful careers as industrial designers. The positive feedback received from both students and industry partners affirms the effectiveness of this approach in grooming students and enhancing their readiness for the job market. This article contributes to the literature on design education, and the insights provided serve as a foundation for educators and institutions seeking to enhance their design programmes, ensuring that students are adequately equipped with the skills, knowledge, and practical experience to enter the job market.

Employment Skills in Tertiary Work-Based Learning: A Multiple-Stakeholder Investigation into China’s “3 + 1” Programs

Rapid economic development and globalization have reshaped the labor market, demanding a highly skilled and adaptable workforce. Tertiary education institutions worldwide have increasingly incorporated work-based learning into their curricula to close the gap between academic knowledge and practical skills. In China, the “3 + 1” programs, combining three years of academic study with one year of practical training, have emerged as a prominent work-based learning model. Despite the strategic importance of these programs, critical gap in consensus remains regarding the specific employment skills that should be imparted, leading to unemployment or underemployment of graduates and employer dissatisfaction. This qualitative study explores the employment skills expected from students in China’s “3 + 1” programs and identifies factors contributing to effective program organization. Through insights gathered from in-depth interviews with multiple stakeholders, including 28 students, educators, and employers, the study highlights the importance of industry-academia collaboration, curriculum relevance and flexibility, professional development for educators, enhanced work placement quality, and effective feedback mechanisms. The findings suggest that these strategies can promote effective work-based learning, equipping graduates with the essential skills emphasized by multiple stakeholders in the study, such as technical proficiency, problem solving, effective communication, teamwork and cooperation, adaptability and agility, digital literacy and technological skills, innovation and creativity, and initiative and proactivity. The study offers implications for both educational institutions and policymakers aiming to improve graduate employability, particularly by enhancing the quality of the “3 + 1” programs through the effective integration of academic studies and industrial training.

Modern Design Methods and Industry-Academia Collaboration

In the field of modern design, the continuous evolution and innovation of design methods are of significant importance to the competitiveness and innovative capacity of enterprises. At the same time, industry-academia collaboration, as a bridge connecting academia and industry, can effectively promote the development of design education and industrial progress. This paper explores the concepts and applications of modern design methods, analyzes the current status, challenges, and successful cases of industry-academia collaboration, and proposes practical applications and future development directions for modern design methods in such collaborations. The study shows that effective industry-academia collaboration can further enhance the application of modern design methods, foster the cultivation of innovative talents, and promote sustainable industrial development.

Improving Business Insurance Loss Models by Leveraging InsurTech Innovation

Recent transformative and disruptive advancements in the insurance industry have embraced various InsurTech innovations. In particular, with the rapid progress in data science and computational capabilities, InsurTech is able to integrate a multitude of emerging data sources, shedding light on opportunities to enhance risk classification and claims management. This article presents a collaborative effort as we combine real-life proprietary insurance claims information together with InsurTech data to enhance the loss model, a fundamental component of insurance companies’ risk management. Our study further utilizes a tree-based model and a conventional linear model to quantify the predictive improvement of the InsurTech-enhanced loss model over that of the insurance in-house model. The quantification process provides a deeper understanding of the value of InsurTech innovation and advocates potential risk factors that are unexplored in traditional insurance loss modeling. This study represents a successful undertaking of an academic–industry collaboration, suggesting an inspiring path for future partnerships between industry and academic institutions.

Forecasting software indicators: an industry-academia collaboration

ContextNowadays software-development organizations are urged to exploit their data for empowering their decision-making processes. Such data may be used to monitor the status of meaningful software indicators (e.g., software quality, productivity and on-time delivery) that are relevant for their decision-making processes. Forecasting the values of such indicators may provide evidence of a potentially high risk or opportunity that could help to anticipate actions accordingly. Most of the existing forecasting proposals in software engineering use open-source data rather than data from industrial projects. Therefore, there is a lack of evidence on how these proposals fit the particular needs of a software-development organization and how they can be automated into the organization’s infrastructure.ObjectiveTo enable software indicators´ forecasting in a software-development organization (Modeliosoft).MethodWe designed an industry-academia collaboration based on Action Design Research (ADR) to address Modeliosoft’s forecasting challenges.ResultsA tool-supported method called FOSI (Forecasting Of Software Indicators) for enabling forecasting in Modeliosoft. We obtained positive results regarding its suitability and technical feasibility in a pilot project of the organization. In addition, we provide details and reflections on the potential usefulness of the method for addressing similar field problems.ConclusionsThe procedures and results detailed in this paper are valuable to: 1) address Modeliosoft’s forecasting challenges 2) inspire other software-development organizations on how to deal with similar problems and even reuse some procedures and software support tools resulted from this work, 3) promote the win-win benefits of industry-academia collaborations.

Research on the Food Service Industry in Central Taiwan

This study examined the changes in business models in the food service industry of Taiwan in the postpandemic era. After staying at home for a more prolonged period during the pandemic. More consumers choose to cook at home to save costs, leading to a booming homemade food market. This trend greatly increases the popularity of convenient meal kits, semi-finished products, and do-it-yourself (DIY) meal sets. It not only caters to consumers’ interest in cooking but also provide convenient and quick solutions for food preparation. Food and beverage businesses have successfully expanded their market reach by developing high-quality homemade food products and utilizing social media and e-commerce platforms for sales. The immediacy and wide audience coverage of social media economy have enabled influencers and food bloggers to directly demonstrate the use and effects of meal kits and DIY dining through live streams and short videos. This approach attracts large numbers of followers to purchase these products, thereby quickly enhancing product awareness and sales. Collaborating with social media has become an effective marketing strategy for food and beverage businesses because it increases brand exposure and allows for product adjustments and improvements based on immediate consumer feedback. This study aims to analyze the post-pandemic restaurant industry through the lens of business models. By conducting interviews with restaurant owners across various sectors in central Taiwan, the research will explore how they confronted the challenges during the pandemic and how they have adjusted their business strategies in the aftermath. The objective is to identify future strategies suitable for the Taiwanese culinary market. This study employs business model theory and interview methodology to investigate six companies within Taiwan's restaurant industry. Through comprehensive analysis, the research aims to determine how the restaurant industry should adjust its strategic direction in the post-pandemic era. The interviewed restaurants implemented various adjustments during the postpandemic period, including arranging for industry–academia collaboration, enhancing employee training and incentives, strengthening restaurant recognition and sense of pride among employees, diversifying dish presentation, improving customer service systems, providing customized services, increasing investment in social media, reinforcing supplier relations, and expanding into new distribution channels. The study results indicate that food and beverage businesses can further explore the potential of social media economy, develop more products suitable for online promotion, and continually optimize marketing strategies by leveraging data analysis and market research to meet consumer demands.

Bridging academia and industry in the era of Industry 4.0 by means of the triple helix: The PLANET4 initiative

Practical Learning of Artificial Intelligence on the Edge of Industry 4.0 (PLANET4) is a cross-disciplinary initiative funded by the European Commission under the Erasmus+ program that embodies the triple helix model of collaboration between academia, industry, and administration. It aims to bridge the gap between academic teaching and practical applications in the context of Industry 4.0. PLANET4 focuses on developing hard skills in artificial intelligence, industrial Internet of things, and cloud and edge computing, along with the soft competencies required to manage changes in the industrial ecosystem. It involves three phases: (1) training needs analysis, taxonomy development, and workshop design; (2) collection of best practices and training material design; and (3) implementation of the PLANET4 learning course. This paper presents the materialization of these phases into a blended learning course, highlighting the integration of the triple helix model and the European Commission’s support for academia-industry collaboration with the aim of improving education quality and promoting Industry 4.0 innovation in Europe.

Nursing Research Contributes to Changes in Clinical Practice

Through my experience visiting Hazanuddin University and touring the hospitals in Makassar, I reconsidered the role of nursing research in the development of nursing technology. It will be increasingly important to train professionals to provide quality care, develop new nursing techniques through interdisciplinary research and industry-academia collaboration, and establish evidence regarding insurance reimbursement.

A Taxonomy for Supporting Industry- Academia Communication in Software Quality

Software quality is one of the most important components of software development. Software quality attracts the user's attention and produces reliable and error-free software. Poor approach strategies lead to less effective outcomes and a higher likelihood of failure. The gap between software quality research and practice is one of the main problems with software quality. The difference between the way software quality research is communicated and the way industry concerns related to software quality is the actual gap.software industries are unaware about rapid technological change, complexities of Modern software systems, security concerns, skill shortage impact on software quality, to overcome theses problems and gaps. Taxonomy is proposed to enhance industry-academia collaboration by facilitating better communication between software quality research and practice. Some of the best quality standards are outlined and authorized in this paper that yields the greatest out-comes. A methodical and goal-oriented strategy is used to develop the proposed taxonomy, with the help of literature review, blogs, articles, and interviews with researchers and practitioners. Twenty distinct questions regarding team co-ordination, dispersion, culture, behaviors and attitudes, experience, and other topics are included in the questionnaire. The taxonomy is evaluated through online survey by implementing it in an industry-academia collaboration project. Researchers and practitioners could use the proposed taxonomy to classify and identify quality concerns or obstacles.

The Alignment of Accounting Curriculum with Market Requirements: The Iraqi Case

This research investigates the alignment between Iraqi university accounting courses and industry demands to enhance the standard and relevance of accounting education. The primary research method was a questionnaire, aiming to understand how well accounting courses at Iraqi institutions meet market requirements. The study's methodology comprised two parts: examining the current accounting curriculum and conducting a follow-up survey using diverse sources and analytical techniques. A total of 350 surveys were distributed to academics and employers, yielding 87 responses from academic staff and 102 valid responses from employers. The study analyzed the latest accounting curriculum, demographic data, relevance ratings for courses, and assessments of essential work skills using SPSS software. Results revealed diverse demographics, with significant responses from academics (58%) and employers (51%). Findings indicate both convergence and divergence in the perceived importance of specific accounting courses, suggesting gaps between theoretical concepts and practical applications. The report underscores the need to align Iraq's accounting curriculum with business needs. Recommendations include systematic curriculum assessments, increased industry-academia collaboration, continual professional development for educators, and a broader focus on skills. This study provides evidence-based suggestions for improving accounting education in Iraq to meet evolving market demands.

Empowering Digital Entrepreneurship in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Education

The article “Empowering Digital Entrepreneurship in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Education” embarks on a detailed exploration of the integration of digital entrepreneurship within Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET). Utilizing advanced searching techniques across Scopus, WoS, ERIC, and Google Scholar databases, the study synthesizes findings from 34 articles, focusing on four main themes: the overview of TVET education, the impact of digital entrepreneurship on TVET, the issue and challenge in integrating digital entrepreneurship into TVET, and the potential pathways for such integration. This study emphasizes how important it is for TVET institutions to include digital entrepreneurship skills in order to prepare a workforce that can successfully navigate the digital economy. It discusses on the precise balance that needs to be achieved between entrepreneurial digital skills and technical vocational training, highlighting how this synergy is essential to developing creativity, flexibility, and competitiveness in the modern workforce. The study also discusses the difficulties in developing curricula, allocating resources, and the importance of industry-academic collaboration, offering thorough solutions for resolving these issues. This paper significantly advances educational policy and practice by providing an in-depth understanding of how digital entrepreneurship can transform Technical and Vocational Education (TVET) and directing industry and educational stakeholders toward the development of a more dynamic, future-focused vocational training ecosystem.

Enhancing Technology-Focused Entrepreneurship in Higher Education Institutions Ecosystem: Implementing Innovation Models in International Projects

Innovation models are key to fostering technology-focused entrepreneurship in higher education institutions (HEIs). These models create dynamic environments that encourage collaboration, creativity, and problem-solving skills among students and faculty. HEIs face several challenges in fostering entrepreneurship, including allocating sufficient financial and human resources, integrating entrepreneurship education across disciplines, and managing intellectual property. Overcoming these challenges requires HEIs to cultivate an entrepreneurial culture and establish strong partnerships with industry stakeholders. To achieve these goals, HEIs must adopt successful innovation models proven to work. This article presents an international case study highlighting such models and the factors contributing to their success. This study explores the implementation and impact of innovation models, specifically IDEATION and DEETECHTIVE, within HEIs to foster technology-focused entrepreneurship. By implementing numerous actions focusing on online education integration and the Quintuple Helix Innovation Model, these models support shifting engineering students’ mindsets toward entrepreneurship. This research highlights the importance of academia–industry collaboration, international partnerships, and the integration of entrepreneurship education in technology-focused disciplines. This study presents two models. The first, IDEATION, focuses on open innovation and sharing economy aspects. This model underwent rigorous testing and refinement, evolving into the second model, DEETECHTIVE, which is more comprehensive and deep tech-focused. These models have been validated as effective frameworks for fostering entrepreneurship and innovation within HEIs. This study’s findings underscore the potential of these models to enhance innovation capacity, foster an entrepreneurial culture, and create ecosystems rich in creativity and advancement. Practical implications include the establishment of open innovation-oriented structures and mechanisms, the development of specialized curriculum components, and the creation of enhanced collaboration platforms.

BRIDGING THE GAP: INDUSTRY-ACADEMIA COLLABORATION IN ARCHITECTURE

This study delves into the ever-needed symbiotic relationship between industry and academia within the architecture domain, clarifying the benefits, and challenges of their collaboration. The multifaceted dimensions of industry-academia collaboration in architecture focuses on the interns' enhancing their understanding during training, fresh graduates' grasp of technical know-how at their first job, and the role of innovative industry partnerships in problem-solving and future building. Through a mixed-method research approach, the paper examines the perceptions of architectural interns and fresh graduates on the effectiveness of educational preparation, their technical know-how and their creative proficiencies encountered in their initial professional roles. Innovative partnerships between industry leaders and academic institutions are further evaluated to unveil the collaborative efforts in addressing contemporary architectural challenges and innovations. The findings suggest a significant discrepancy between academic training and industry requirements, indicating a need for curriculum reform and an enhanced framework for continuous collaboration. This study not only contributes to a deeper understanding of the transition from academic preparation to professional practice but also presents practical implications for curriculum development and strategic industry engagement.

Synthesis and Characterization of a Sustained Nitric Oxide-Releasing Orthodontic Elastomeric Chain for Antimicrobial Action.

The acidic byproducts of bacteria in plaque around orthodontic brackets contribute to white spot lesion (WSL) formation. Nitric oxide (NO) has antibacterial properties, hindering biofilm formation and inhibiting the growth of oral microbes. Materials that mimic NO release could prevent oral bacteria-related pathologies. This study aims to integrate S-nitroso-acetylpenicillamine (SNAP), a promising NO donor, into orthodontic elastomeric ligatures, apply an additional polymer coating, and evaluate the NO-release kinetics and antimicrobial activity against Streptococus mutans. SNAP was added to clear elastomeric chains (8 loops, 23 mm long) at three concentrations (50, 75, 100 mg/mL, and a control). Chains were then coated, via electrospinning, with additional polymer (Elastollan®) to aid in extending the NO release. NO flux was measured daily for 30 days. Samples with 75 mg/mL SNAP + Elastollan® were tested against S. mutans for inhibition of biofilm formation on and around the chain. SNAP was successfully integrated into ligatures at each concentration. Only the 75 mg/mL SNAP chains maintained their elasticity. After polymer coating, samples exhibited a significant burst of NO on the first day, exceeding the machine's reading capacity, which gradually decreased over 29 days. Ligatures also inhibited S. mutans growth and biofilm formation. Future research will assess their mechanical properties and cytotoxicity. This study presents a novel strategy to address white spot lesion (WSL) formation and bacterial-related pathologies by utilizing nitric oxide-releasing materials. Manufactured chains with antimicrobial properties provide a promising solution for orthodontic challenges, showing significant potential for academic-industrial collaboration and commercial viability.

A novel electro-mechanical chewing system for food oral processing research: A comprehensive design approach

This paper presents a comprehensive design approach for an electro-mechanical system for food oral processing research. The bespoke design and prototype of the proposed device is a standalone and compact table top model and can be operated using a customized software interface. The design considered a bi-directional chewing motion to enable nearly similar mandible movement pattern as in human. Food texture profile can be estimated using a load cell with capacity up to 300 N. This design included a section of real shaped teeth assembly consisting of three teeth; and a controlled supply line for multi-point saliva injections. The device is fitted with easily replaceable sensors for in situ measurements of conductivity, pH, and temperature. Operating volume of the device can be kept in equivalence with the volume of human oral and nasal space. The device chamber can be hermetically sealed and temperature controlled. A duct system is fitted to connect the device with external analytical systems, such as electronic nose, for measuring gaseous substance release during experimentation. The system also enables easy retrieval of the processed sample so as to use the masticated samples and processed saliva for subsequent analysis by analytical instruments, such as electronic tongue, to identify released soluble compounds and taste profiles. Moreover, the design emphasized on easy cleaning and maintainability. Based on the proposed design, two working prototypes are developed. It is envisaged that the device will be a novel contribution to the progress in the field of food science, new product development, training to future professionals, and strengthening industry-academic collaborations in foreseeable future.