Industry-academia Collaboration Research Articles

May the force of lifelong learning be with you – sustainable organizational learning in HEIs meeting competence needs in industry

Purpose Technological advancements and global societal changes reshapes manufacturing industry emphasizing needs for competence development of industrial professionals. The purpose of this paper is to study how organizational learning supports the development of academic structures, creating agile and sustainable formal educational models meeting novel competence needs. Design/methodology/approach The qualitative case study, part of a longitudinal research study, focuses on internal academic processes supporting a new formal educational model. Qualitative data was collected through five focus groups, incorporating 32 informants from different HEI function categories. Findings Changing traditional academic structures requires joint engagement between all HEI functions, emphasizing organizational learning with subprocesses of searching, creating, sustaining and exchanging knowledge in a learning loop. Results show a consensus among the different HEI functions regarding the value of the HEI’s coproduction with society; however, bureaucracy and academic structure hinder flexibility. Cross-functional teams building a “chain-of-trust” throughout the HEI coupled with full management support show opportunities to progress into a learning organization. Practical implications Organizational learning within HEIs requires trustful and open communication, multifunction knowledge exchange, holistic views of processes and system thinking, achieved through cross-functional teams and continuous improvement through learning loops. Social implications Industry-academic collaboration on formal education for lifelong learning needs to become both agile and resilience to meet technological advancement and sustainability. Originality/value Novel technology, digitalization and sustainability gain ground and require that society and organizations, including academia, change and learn. This means that academia is meeting new challenges and needs to develop internal processes.

Developing indicators for the social benefits of university-industry collaborations

This paper focuses on the social benefits of university-industry collaborations (UICs) based on the cases of winners of the Industry-Academia Collaboration Prize presented by the UK Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) (2010–2023). The research question, which concerns the social and environmental benefits of UICs, has received little attention in the literature, as it focuses mainly on their economic effects. Taking the framework approach to thematic analysis, a list of thematic indicators, which serve as benchmark criteria for evaluating the social impact of UICs in medical, pharmaceutical and chemical industries, is developed. The use of a case study to identify indicators via this approach is appropriate for generating in-depth insights into the characteristics of UICs that have considerable societal impacts. Knowledge creation and contribution to training and improved skills levels constitute the main social benefits of UICs in the three industries cited above. Our findings have practical and theoretical implications, as they emphasize the importance of UICs in fulfilling a specific function in society, namely, facilitating research and developing skills that make the world a better place.

A new framework for ethical artificial intelligence: keeping HRD in the loop

ABSTRACT As a result of the rapid development of technologies, artificial intelligence (AI) is changing human experiences and workplaces in ways that we are not prepared for. Recognized as a double-edged tool, AI has brought both positive and negative outcomes to organisations and employees. With its increasing popularity in the workplace and our daily practice, how to use AI intelligently and responsibly has become a top concern raised by both academics and practitioners. In this article, we discuss the desired and unintended consequences of AI as documented in current literature, examine the ethical concerns, and identify current solutions. We propose ‘keeping HRD in the loop’ as a means to addressing ethical challenges associated with AI and offer a new conceptual framework as a tool for reference. Integrating general AI principles and ethical guidelines developed by the Academy of HRD, we map out an ethical boundary consisting of nine human-centred principles and suggest a sample of six HRD interventions that can facilitate responsible AI practices and productive human-machine interfaces. By bringing HRD perspectives into the domain of AI practice, we hope to bring ethical considerations to the forefront of AI decision-making and stimulate more interest in interdisciplinary research and academic-industry collaboration.

Understanding academia-industry collaboration in a developing economic environment: Determinants and implications from Bariloche, Argentina

This study examines the determinants of academia-industry collaboration (AIC) in the context of Bariloche, Argentina, and provides valuable insights into collaboration dynamics in a developing economy. Using a quantitative research approach, data was collected through a survey administered to academic researchers in Bariloche. The survey included questions on researcher characteristics, organizational attributes, and disciplinary norms, which were then tested through eight hypotheses related to factors influencing AIC. Data analysis, including descriptive and inferential statistics, revealed significant relationships between independent variables (e.g., prior career experience, organizational affiliation, disciplinary norms) and researchers’ involvement in AIC. The study’s limitations, such as reliance on self-reported data and non-probabilistic sampling, are acknowledged. Nevertheless, the findings contribute to the understanding of AIC in Bariloche and have implications for promoting effective academia-industry partnerships. Future research should consider longitudinal studies and explore additional factors to inform evidence-based policies in developing economies.

Addressing trade-offs in co-designing principles for ethical AI: perspectives from an industry-academia collaboration

AbstractThe development and deployment of artificial intelligence (AI) has rapidly outpaced regulation. As a result, many organizations opt to develop their own principles for the ethical development of AI, though little research has examined the processes through which they are developed. Prior research indicates that these processes involve perceived trade-offs between competing considerations, and primarily between ethical concerns and organizational benefits or technological development. In this paper, we report on a novel, collaborative initiative in Japan between researchers in the humanities and social sciences, and industry actors to co-design organizational AI ethics principles. We analyzed the minutes from 20 meetings from the formative phase of the development of these principles using an inductive process drawing on thematic analysis, to identify the issues of importance to participants. Through this, we identified four core trade-offs faced by participants. We find that, contrary to prior literature, participants were not just concerned with trade-offs between ethical concerns and organizational benefits or technological development, but also between competing, ethically-oriented considerations. We use the results of this study to highlight a need for further research to understand the longer-term impact on organizations and on society of organization-led approaches to AI ethics.

Breaking cultural barriers: an integrated methodology for challenge-driven co-creation projects

AbstractThe fact that successful Industry-Academia Collaborations (IACs) are beneficial for the participants is widely accepted. However, without a target-oriented methodology, the chances for success are low. This paper's focus is the early phase in the creation of such a methodology which is done in a structured way. Furthermore, the goal is to understand the great influence culture plays in creative problem-solving in distributed teams in IACs.

REVOLUTIONIZING NIGERIAN UNIVERSITY MANAGEMENT: IMPLEMENTING MARKET-LED STRATEGIES

This paper examines the implementation of market-led strategies in Nigerian university management and its transformative impact on higher education institutions. In response to changing societal needs and economic demands, Nigerian universities are increasingly adopting market-led approaches to enhance their competitiveness, relevance, and sustainability. By embracing principles of market orientation, customer focus, and responsiveness to stakeholders, universities seek to improve student recruitment, academic program development, research commercialization, and industry collaboration. Through case studies and empirical analysis, this study assesses the implementation process, challenges, and outcomes of market-led strategies in Nigerian university management. The findings highlight the potential benefits of market orientation in enhancing institutional effectiveness, fostering innovation, and driving organizational change in higher education.

Key technology and development of industry–academia collaboration patents derived from the government subsidy program

Abstract This study discusses the technology development direction of industry–academia collaboration patents derived from government-subsidized programs and uses technology network analysis to pinpoint the key technologies developed in government-subsidized programs that align with market needs. The main technologies that play a key role in the government-subsidized industry–academia collaboration technology network for recent years are revealed to be measurement and chemistry technologies. The technologies that bridge the gap between multiple fields within the field of medicine are found to be diagnosis, surgery, and identification technologies; these technologies require further attention and resources from the government and academia. Additionally, semiconductor technology is revealed to play an increasingly crucial role in the government-subsidized industry–academia collaboration network. The findings can serve as a reference for the government to allocate research resources and for enterprises to promote emerging technologies.

Design and Development of an Intelligent Connected Access Integrated Training and Assessment Platform

This study addresses the issues of poor interdisciplinary integration and misalignment between experimental content and industry demands in the construction of applied undergraduate laboratory facilities, based on the background of industry-academia collaboration. This paper presents the design and development of an intelligent connected access integrated training and assessment platform, utilizing a full-stack development approach that combines knowledge graph, sensor principles, communication protocol integration, microcontroller programming, networking, connected access, and cloud platform development. The platform adopts a topological hierarchical structure, facilitating layered instruction for teachers and helping students to understand the logical development of Internet of Things products. Furthermore, the platform utilizes equipment commonly used in enterprises to enhance students' technical application, practical, and innovative capabilities. Through teaching practice, students' engineering awareness and practical skills have significantly improved, effectively promoting the development of relevant courses and practical training.

The Future of Chemical Sciences is Sustainable

AbstractChemistry, a vital tool for sustainable development, faces a challenge due to the lack of clear guidance on actionable steps, hindering the optimal adoption of sustainability practices across its diverse facets from discovery to implementation. This Scientific Perspective explores established frameworks and principles, proposing a conciliated set of triple E priorities anchored on Environmental, Economic, and Equity pillars for research and decision making. We outline associated metrics, crucial for quantifying impacts, classifying them according to their focus areas and scales tackled. Emphasizing catalysis as a key driver of sustainable synthesis of chemicals and materials, we exemplify how triple E priorities can practically guide the development and implementation of processes from renewables conversions to complex customized products. We summarize by proposing a roadmap for the community aimed at raising awareness, fostering academia–industry collaboration, and stimulating further advances in sustainable chemical technologies across their broad scope.

The Future of Chemical Sciences is Sustainable.

Chemistry, a vital tool for sustainable development, faces a challenge due to the lack of clear guidance on actionable steps, hindering the optimal adoption of sustainability practices across its diverse facets from discovery to implementation. This Scientific Perspective explores established frameworks and principles, proposing a conciliated set of triple E priorities anchored on Environmental, Economic, and Equity pillars for research and decision making. We outline associated metrics, crucial for quantifying impacts, classifying them according to their focus areas and scales tackled. Emphasizing catalysis as a key driver of sustainable synthesis of chemicals and materials, we exemplify how triple E priorities can practically guide the development and implementation of processes from renewables conversions to complex customized products. We summarize by proposing a roadmap for the community aimed at raising awareness, fostering academia-industry collaboration, and stimulating further advances in sustainable chemical technologies across their broad scope.

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

This research investigates at how Iraqi university accounting courses connect to industry demands in an effort to raise the standard and relevance of accounting education. The study used a survey with a questionnaire that was distributed to teachers, graduates, employers, and professionals in the accounting area in Iraq. The study looks at the most recent accounting curriculum, demographic data, relevance ratings for accounting courses, and assessments of essential work skills. The study showed a wide range of demographics, including notable responses from academics (58%), and employers (51%). Results show areas of convergence and divergence in the perceived importance of specific accounting courses, which may indicate gaps between theoretical ideas and practical implementations. Crucial skills and non-accounting courses share some shared aims and small differences as well. The report highlights how important it is to align Iraq's accounting curriculum with business needs. The proposals include systematic curriculum assessments, more industry-academia collaboration, continual professional development for educators, and an emphasis on a broader range of abilities. In response to shifting market needs, the paper makes evidence-based suggestions for enhancing accounting education in Iraq.

At the Speed of Light: The Systematic Implementation of Photoredox Cross-Coupling Reactions for Medicinal Chemistry Research.

The adoption of new and emerging techniques in organic synthesis is essential to promote innovation in drug discovery. In this Perspective, we detail the strategy we used for the systematic deployment of photoredox-mediated, metal-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions in AbbVie's medicinal chemistry organization, focusing on topics such as assessment, evaluation, implementation, and accessibility. The comprehensive evaluation of photoredox reaction setups and published methods will be discussed, along with internal efforts to build expertise and photoredox high-throughput experimentation capabilities. We also highlight AbbVie's academic-industry collaborations in this field that have been leveraged to develop new synthetic strategies, along with discussing the internal adoption of photoredox cross-coupling reactions. The work described herein has culminated in robust photocatalysis and cross-coupling capabilities which are viewed as key platforms for medicinal chemistry research at AbbVie.

Nanomedicines for an Enhanced Immunogenic Cell Death-Based In Situ Cancer Vaccination Response.

ConspectusCancer vaccines have shown tremendous potential in preventing and treating cancer by providing immunogenic antigens to initiate specific tumor immune responses. An in situ vaccine prepared from an autologous tumor can mobilize a patient's own tumor cell lysate as a reservoir of specific antigens, thus triggering a broad immune response and diverse antitumor immunity in an individually tailored manner. Its efficacy is much better than that of conventional vaccines with a limited number of epitopes. Several conventional therapies, including radiotherapy (RT), chemotherapeutics, photodynamic therapy (PDT), and photothermal therapy (PTT) can activate an anticancer in situ vaccine response by inducing immunogenic cell death (ICD), triggering the exposure of tumor-associated antigens (TAAs), cancerous testis antigens, neoantigens, and danger-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) with low cost. However, the immunogenicity of dying tumor cells is low, making released antigens and DAMPs insufficient to initiate a robust immune response against malignant cancer. Moreover, the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) severely hinders the infiltration and sensitization of effector immune cells, causing tolerogenic immunological effects.Herein, we mainly focus on the research in developing nanoplatforms to surmount the major challenges met by ICD-based in situ vaccines. We first summarized a variety of nanotechnologies that enable enhanced immunogenicity of dying cancer cells by enhancing antigenicity and adjuvanticity. The robust antigenicity was obtained via regulating the tumor cells death mode or the dying state to amplify the recognition of tumor debris by professional antigen-presenting cells (APCs). The adjuvanticity was potentiated by raising the level or intensifying the activity of endogenous adjuvants or promoting the intelligent delivery of exogenous immunostimulants to activate immune cell recruitment and promote antigen presentation. Additionally, versatile approaches to reverse immunosuppressive TME to boost the in situ tumor vaccination response are also highlighted in detail. On one hand, by modulating the cell metabolism in TME, the expansion and activity of effector versus immunosuppressive cells can be optimized to improve the efficiency of in situ vaccines. On the other hand, regulating cellular components in TME, such as reversing adverse immune cell phenotypes or inhibiting the activity of interstitial cells, can also significantly enhance the ICD-based antitumor immunotherapy effect. Finally, our viewpoint on the future challenges and opportunities in this hopeful area is presented. We expect that this Account can offer much more insight into the design, planning, and development of cutting-edge in situ tumor vaccine platforms, promoting more attention and academic-industry collaborations, accelerating the advanced progress of in situ tumor vaccine-based immunotherapy in the clinic.

Popular Environmental Media in Australia: Reflections on Audience Engagement and Impact

Proliferating media content is key to public understanding and discussions about the environment and climate change. While scholarly interest in mediated environmental communication has been ample and multi-directional, the questions around media's impacts remain pressing and largely under-theorised. This paper uses an example of popular environmental media in Australia – i.e. media aimed at attracting wide audiences – to discuss how impact is perceived and pursued in the distinctive Australian context, and what can be inferred from this study about environmental media and its impact more generally. Drawing on 28 interviews with media-makers and practitioners, conducted between 2022 and 2023, we catalogue common creative/narratives strategies used to engage audiences, noting a diversity of views and approaches for creating and measuring impact. The paper contributes to theoretical debates on media impact and encourages active academic research-media industry collaborations as part of initiatives aimed at meeting the challenges of climate change.

Breaking Boundaries Initiative: Workshop on Industry-Academia Collaboration [Technical Activities

Breaking Boundaries Initiative: Workshop on Industry-Academia Collaboration [Technical Activities

Sensors for Emerging Water Contaminants: Overcoming Roadblocks to Innovation.

Ensuring water quality and safety requires the effective detection of emerging contaminants, which present significant risks to both human health and the environment. Field deployable low-cost sensors provide solutions to detect contaminants at their source and enable large-scale water quality monitoring and management. Unfortunately, the availability and utilization of such sensors remain limited. This Perspective examines current sensing technologies for detecting emerging contaminants and analyzes critical barriers, such as high costs, lack of reliability, difficulties in implementation in real-world settings, and lack of stakeholder involvement in sensor design. These technical and nontechnical barriers severely hinder progression from proof-of-concepts and negatively impact user experience factors such as ease-of-use and actionability using sensing data, ultimately affecting successful translation and widespread adoption of these technologies. We provide examples of specific sensing systems and explore key strategies to address the remaining scientific challenges that must be overcome to translate these technologies into the field such as improving sensitivity, selectivity, robustness, and performance in real-world water environments. Other critical aspects such as tailoring research to meet end-users' requirements, integrating cost considerations and consumer needs into the early prototype design, establishing standardized evaluation and validation protocols, fostering academia-industry collaborations, maximizing data value by establishing data sharing initiatives, and promoting workforce development are also discussed. The Perspective describes a set of guidelines for the development, translation, and implementation of water quality sensors to swiftly and accurately detect, analyze, track, and manage contamination.

Safety protocols in electro-mechanical installations: Understanding the key methodologies for ensuring human and system safety

This study systematically examines the safety protocols in electro-mechanical systems, focusing on methodologies, trends, and innovations that ensure human and system safety. The primary objective is to bridge the gap between current practices and the evolving demands of these systems, considering technological advancements and regulatory compliance. A systematic literature review methodology was employed, utilizing databases like IEEE Xplore, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar. The search strategy involved keywords related to safety protocols and electro-mechanical systems, adhering to strict inclusion and exclusion criteria to ensure a focused analysis. Key findings reveal the growing importance of integrating advanced sensing technologies, artificial intelligence, and human factors into safety management. The study highlights the shift from reactive to proactive safety measures, emphasizing the need for continuous monitoring and predictive maintenance. Collaborative approaches involving various stakeholders, including industry and academia, are identified as crucial for enhancing safety. The future landscape of safety in electro-mechanical systems is expected to be significantly influenced by emerging technologies, leading to more sophisticated safety protocols. The study recommends continuous updating of safety protocols in line with technological advancements and changing regulatory landscapes. It also suggests interdisciplinary research and industry-academia collaboration to address complex safety challenges. Finally, the evolution of safety protocols in electro-mechanical systems is marked by technological advancements and a deeper understanding of human-system interaction. The study underscores the necessity for continuous improvement and adaptation of safety protocols, ensuring their effectiveness in safeguarding human lives and system sustainability.

Evaluating the nexus of funding and scientific output in Kazakhstan

This study examines the dynamics and effectiveness of investments in Kazakhstan’s research and development (R&D). The primary aim is to assess the efficiency of scientific research activities in Kazakhstan by analyzing the relationship between R&D investments and scientific outputs across different periods. As a methodological approach, Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) calculates efficiency indicators by transforming multiple inputs into outputs. Descriptive analysis comprehensively explains trends and patterns in R&D funding, scientific publications, and patent registrations. The results reveal a substantial increase in R&D expenditure. Despite this, the share of domestic R&D expenditures from the gross domestic product (GDP) declined from 0.25% to 0.12%. The analysis also uncovered a significant surge in scientific publications, with Scopus publications increasing from 1,799 to 28,280 and Web of Science publications rising from 1,468 to 20,532 across the study period. However, a contrasting trend was observed in patent registrations, which decreased from 6,968 to 2,612, indicating potential inefficiencies in translating research into innovations. The study concludes that while Kazakhstan has demonstrated notable progress in enhancing research output, the decline in patent registrations relative to the increase in R&D investments underscores the need for strategic initiatives. These should strengthen industry-academia collaboration, enhance innovation infrastructure, and balance incentives for publications and patents, ensuring that R&D investments translate into tangible innovations and contribute effectively to the nation’s socio-economic development. Acknowledgment This research article has been supported bу the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan within the project «Development of а model for evaluating the effectiveness of research activities of universities in Kazakhstan based on non-parametric and semi-parametric data analysis» (IRN AP13268842). А.I.Р. thanks the lnstitute of Solid-State Physics, University of Latvia. ISSP UL as the Center of Excellence is supported through the Framework Program for European universities, Union Horizon 2020, H2020-WIDESPREAD-01-2016-2017 TeamingPhase2, under Grant Agreement No. 739508, CAMART2 project.

Industry-Academia Collaboration in the Field of Functional Nucleic Acids: An Analysis Based on Papers and Patents

Abstract This investigation delves into the evolving patterns and regional variances in industry-academia collaboration (IAC) within Functional Nucleic Acids (FNAs) research. Analyzing publications and patents from 1990 to 2021, we dissected IAC at individual and collective levels, documenting the count and share of IAC endeavors, key partners, and regional differences. Results indicate a rising trend in IAC publications and collaborating institutions, while patent trends display a mix of increases, decreases, and steady states. The United States leads in IAC activities, correlating with its prowess in scientific research and technological innovation. Notably, regional discrepancies in IAC are mainly due to intra-regional variations, with Asia and Europe experiencing the most pronounced disparities.