Industry Collaboration Research Articles

Meeting report of the seventh annual Tri-Service Microbiome Consortium Symposium.

The Tri-Service Microbiome Consortium (TSMC) was founded to enhance collaboration, coordination, and communication of microbiome research among DoD organizations and to facilitate resource, material and information sharing among consortium members, which includes collaborators in academia and industry. The 2023 annual symposium was a hybrid meeting held in Washington DC on 26-27 September 2023 concurrent with the virtual attendance, with oral and poster presentations and discussions centered on microbiome-related topics within five broad thematic areas: 1) Environmental Microbiome Characterization; 2) Microbiome Analysis; 3) Human Microbiome Characterization; 4) Microbiome Engineering; and 5) In Vitro and In Vivo Microbiome Models. Collectively, the symposium provided an update on the scope of current DoD and DoD-affiliated microbiome research efforts and fostered collaborative opportunities. This report summarizes the presentations and outcomes of the 7th annual TSMC symposium.

Assessing the Effectiveness of TVET Training in Enhancing Youth Employability: A Case Study of Kisumu County, Kenya

Abstract: TVET offers opportunities to equip youth with industry-relevant skills, bridging the gap between education and employment. However, challenges such as inadequate funding, outdated curricula, limited access to modern equipment, and negative perceptions hinder its potential. This study assessed the effectiveness of TVET training in enhancing youth employability n Kisumu County, Kenya. Social learning theory and Human capital theory were adopted. A descriptive survey design was adopted. The study targeted a population of 20,857 consisting of 20,814 TVET students, 42 Heads of TVET institutions and 1 County Education Officer in Kisumu County Government. The sample size was 379 determined using Krejcie and Morgan (1970) formula. Sampling was conducted by means of disproportionate stratified random sampling. Structured questionnaires and interview guide were used to collect data. Data analytical methods were content analysis, descriptive and inferential statistics. Linear relationships between variables were determined using Pearson`s Correlation analysis method. The correlational coefficient for youth employment was=0.57 implying a moderate positive relationship between TVET training and youth employability. Government as policy-maker was recommended to institute regular reform for reviewing the existing TVET curricula in order to incorporate feedback from students and adapt to emerging dynamics of demographic dividends. The Government should increase funding, resources for TVET Institutions: The government should allocate more financial resources to TVET institutions to enhance infrastructure and support the development of industry-relevant programs and strengthen industry partnerships and collaborations between TVET institutions and industries to ensure that training programs are aligned with current labor market demands.

The potentials of University–Industry Collaboration (UIC) for agriculture from diverse stakeholders’ perspectives

PurposeUniversity–Industry Collaboration (UIC) is crucial for enhancing sectoral performance and competitiveness. This study focuses on investigating the challenges and solutions to achieving effective UIC in Brunei Darussalam’s agricultural sector. This sector is pivotal in diversifying the economy away from historical dependence on oil and gas, thereby promoting sustainability.Design/methodology/approachAdopting an interpretivist stance, this study prioritised subjective views through semi-structured interviews with 20 diverse participants, including government officials, agri-business professionals, farmers, an agri-tech company and academicians.FindingsThe findings highlight key challenges to successful UIC, including varying stakeholder needs and goals, limited proactive engagement and inadequate funding. Overcoming these barriers necessitates the provision of financial support and supportive mechanisms to agricultural stakeholders, along with fostering active participation in collaborative efforts. Enhancements in both academic and practical aspects are also essential for addressing these challenges effectively.Research limitations/implicationsThis study provides practical insights for stakeholders in industry, academia and government to collaboratively improve sectoral performance. Given its qualitative nature, the findings may not be universally generalisable beyond the contexts examined. Future research should validate these findings across diverse settings to enhance the transferability and applicability of UIC strategies.Originality/valueThis study addresses a crucial gap in the literature by examining UIC in agricultural contexts, particularly in developing countries such as Brunei, where research in this area is scarce. Moreover, this study’s findings may have relevance beyond the immediate context, as they provide rich and detailed insights into UIC dynamics from diverse stakeholders' perspectives, which can be applicable to similar settings in other developing countries.

MICROMORPHOLOGICAL STUDIES (ACHENE / CYPSELA) ON SELECTED ASTERACEAE TAXA NATIVE TO TURKIYE

With this study fruit width-length measurements, weights and surface morphologies of some taxa belonging to Asteraceae family distributed in Türkiye were studied. The aim of the study was to reveal the fruit morphological characteristics and differences between the taxa of Tragopogon buphthalmoides, Dittrichia viscosa, Dittrichia graveolens, Tripleurospermum caucasicum, Kemulariella caucasica, Leontodon hispidus subsp. hispidus, Jurinea consanguinea and Jurinea moschus. Widths and lengths of the fruits were measured with Leica EZ4 microscope and digital caliper. Fruit weights were weighted out with Dikomsan precision scales. The stereomicroscope to determine the morphological characteristics of the fruits was also used. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) in USKIM (Center for University and Industry Collaboration) was used to determine the surface morphology of the fruits. The smallest fruits were determined in Dittrichia graveolens (0.40 mm wide and 1.23 mm long), while the largest fruits were determined in Tragopogon buphthalmoides (25.88 mm long and 1.62 mm wide). The heaviest fruits were measured in Jurinea consanguinea (0.0065 gr) and the slightest fruits in Dittrichia graveolens (0.000062 gr) taxa.

Enterprise digitization and marine economic performance: An empirical study of listed enterprises in China's maritime economy.

The scale and connectivity of marine resources make them more complex than land resource management. Although digitization has been recognized as an organizational change process that can effectively improve resource efficiency and enhance network resilience, however, gaps remain in establishing the theoretical links between digitization and marine economic performance. Based on a panel fixed-effects model, this study evaluates the interrelationships and potential mechanisms of different firms with data from annual reports of listed firms in the marine economy in the eastern coastal region of China. The results indicate that there is a 'U-shaped' relationship between digitalization and enterprise efficiency in the maritime sector, and significant heterogeneity exists in the characteristics of these enterprises. Notably, firms' technological innovation capability can modulate the 'U-shaped' relationship through the interaction of economies of scale and economies of scope. This paper highlights how digitization mitigates the fragmentation and sectionalization of marine information and addresses the digital overload and productivity paradox that firms may face in the early stages of digitization. The study suggests that institutional diversity shapes resilience. Governments need to promote top-down regulation and industry collaboration, while marine enterprises need to coevolve collaboratively with them through bottom-up internal communication and external interaction to enhance the value chain of marine enterprises.

Challenges and Opportunities in the Adoption of Flexible Manufacturing Systems in Indian Manufacturing Industries

The manufacturing sector is increasingly adopting automation technologies to enhance productivity and flexibility. Among these technologies, Flexible Manufacturing Systems (FMS) offer substantial benefits, such as reduced lead times, improved production flexibility, and lowered operational costs. Despite its advantages, FMS adoption in Indian manufacturing industries has been slow due to several barriers, including high capital costs, technological complexity, and inadequate government support. This study investigates the current status of FMS adoption in India, identifies the key barriers hindering its implementation, and proposes a decision-making model to facilitate its wider adoption. The research gap highlights the lack of a comprehensive framework to quantify the barriers and assess the performance of FMS adoption. To address this, a two-phase Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) methodology was used. This approach allowed for the classification and prioritization of barriers, as well as the development of a model for FMS selection based on statistical analysis. A case study was conducted using this methodology to evaluate various FMS models and provide a systematic decision-making framework for manufacturers. The results revealed that the most significant barriers to FMS adoption in India include high upfront costs, insufficient infrastructure, and the challenges posed by rapidly advancing FMS technology. By applying the AHP-TOPSIS approach, this study offers insights into overcoming these barriers and presents actionable recommendations for manufacturers and policymakers. The findings emphasize the need for increased government support and industry collaboration to accelerate FMS adoption in India. This research contributes to the development of a structured decision-making framework, which could help manufacturers implement FMS more effectively, thereby enhancing competitiveness in an increasingly dynamic global market. Keywords— Flexible Manufacturing Systems, Barriers to FMS, Indian Manufacturing, AHP-TOPSIS, Decision-Making Model

Job Opportunities in Various Field for Criminology Graduates: Indian Perspective

ABSTRACT The study explores the wide range of career options available to criminology graduates in India, focusing on both traditional fields and emerging ones that have developed due to technological, sociopolitical, and economic changes. Employers in areas such as public policy, corporate security, intelligence, and the criminal justice system are increasingly seeking criminology graduates. In this evolving job market, these graduates face both opportunities and challenges, as employers demand specific skills, practical experience, and real-world knowledge from new candidates. This research provides a thorough analysis of how criminology graduates can adapt to the Indian job market and offers targeted recommendations for curriculum reform, industry collaborations, and government initiatives to enhance employability. Drawing from both international and Indian studies, the paper highlights how technological advancements and contemporary security needs have shaped employment patterns in India’s private sector and its criminal justice system.

Technological Innovation for Sustainable Supply Chain Management in the Food Industry

This study explores the critical role of technological innovations—specifically blockchain, Internet of Things (IoT), and artificial intelligence (AI)—in enhancing sustainable supply chain management within Malaysia's food industry. As the industry faces increasing pressure to adopt sustainable practices due to environmental concerns, regulatory demands, and consumer expectations, these technologies offer significant potential for improving traceability, reducing waste, and optimizing operational efficiency. The research highlights how blockchain enhances transparency and ethical sourcing, IoT enables real-time monitoring to minimize waste, and AI optimizes demand forecasting and inventory management, reducing overproduction and resource waste. However, the study also identifies substantial barriers to the adoption of these technologies, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). These challenges include high implementation costs, a shortage of skilled labor, and concerns over data security and privacy. To address these issues, the study recommends starting with pilot projects to mitigate risks, investing in continuous workforce training, enhancing data security measures, and leveraging government support and industry collaborations. By overcoming these challenges, Malaysia's food industry can effectively integrate these innovations, leading to more sustainable, efficient, and resilient supply chains. This research underscores the importance of strategic planning and continuous improvement in fully realizing the benefits of technological advancements, thereby positioning Malaysia’s food industry as a leader in sustainable practices within the global market.

VEIDEA: A Comprehensive Framework for Implementing Building Information Modeling-Based Value Engineering Within a Common Data Environment in Construction Projects

The Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry faces significant global challenges, including frequent project delays, budget overruns, and inadequate stakeholder collaboration. To address these issues, Value Engineering (VE) and Building Information Modeling (BIM) have been increasingly used in large-scale, complex construction projects. Although many studies highlight the benefits of integrating VE with BIM, its full practical potential has not yet been realized. This study aims to investigate the integration of VE and BIM within a Common Data Environment (CDE) to improve decision making and project outcomes. A comprehensive framework was developed, consisting of four interconnected modules: (1) Creating the CDE, (2) Developing the BIM Model, (3) Implementing Value Engineering, and (4) Conducting a Value Engineering Study. Central to this framework is the introduction of the VEIDEA” data bank, a structured system based on the OmniClass classification, which stores and organizes VE ideas. Additionally, the framework incorporates the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) to automate the evaluation phase, assisting designers and VE teams in making data-driven decisions on design alternatives. Empirical results from a case study of an office building show significant cost savings, with a 20% reduction in reinforced concrete (RC) slab costs and a 39% reduction in flooring material costs. These findings demonstrate the potential for integrating VE and BIM to enhance cost-effectiveness and overall project performance. This study offers a novel approach to optimizing project collaboration, decision making, and efficiency in the AEC industry.

Environmental Management and Construction Waste Strategies in Malaysia: An Overview of Green Materials and Waste Management Challenge

This review provides an overview of Malaysia's environmental management practices, with a focus on construction waste management, to address the country's growing waste generation in the construction sector. The paper highlights key challenges Malaysia faces in implementing effective environmental practices and offers potential solutions to overcome these hurdles. Additionally, it examines the use of green materials, such as recycled concrete aggregate and bamboo, which have demonstrated significant potential in reducing resource consumption and carbon emissions. The challenges of adopting these materials are analyzed, along with a discussion of their advantages and limitations. Ultimately, the review underscores the importance of environmental management and the role of sustainable materials in transforming Malaysia’s construction industry, while calling for stronger regulatory frameworks and industry collaboration to address these challenges. The objective of this review is to provide insights into the current environmental management efforts in Malaysia and to explore the potential of green materials in mitigating environmental impacts.

The Application and Challenges of New Energy Vehicles in the Logistics and Distribution Sector

With the continuous enhancement of public environmental awareness and the promotion of sustainable development in logistics and distribution, the recognition of new energy vehicles in the logistics and distribution sector is gradually increasing due to their characteristics such as low carbon emissions and low noise. However, new energy vehicles face serious range anxiety, short driving range, low coverage of charging and swapping stations, long charging times, and lack of uniform standards, making it difficult for them to cope with the complex logistics and distribution environment. Additionally, the high initial investment in new energy vehicles hinders their promotion in the logistics and distribution sector. This article proposes suggestions such as increasing research and development efforts for new energy vehicles, accelerating the construction of charging and swapping station infrastructure, and strengthening industry collaboration to promote the standardization process, providing reference for the application of new energy vehicles in the logistics and distribution sector.

Bridging The Gap Between Maritime Education and Industry Needs: Enhancing Human Resource Development

This research explores the critical need for maritime vocational education to align more closely with the evolving demands of the maritime industry, particularly in the areas of technological integration, environmental compliance, and industry collaboration. By analyzing the qualitative perspectives of maritime professionals, educators, graduates, and senior government officers, the study identifies key gaps in the current educational framework. The findings highlight the moderate effectiveness of existing programs, with strengths in regulatory knowledge and industry-academia partnerships, but weaknesses in preparing students for advanced technological systems and practical environmental challenges. The study emphasizes the need for curriculum modernization, increased hands-on training, and deeper, long-term industry partnerships to equip future maritime professionals with the skills necessary to navigate a rapidly changing sector. Ultimately, this research provides actionable insights for improving the responsiveness and agility of maritime vocational schools, ensuring that graduates are better prepared for the technological, regulatory, and environmental challenges facing the maritime industry.

Enhancing Career Pathways for Maritime Graduates through Human Resource Management Strategies

This research investigates how maritime vocational schools can enhance the career pathways of graduates by aligning educational outcomes with the needs of the maritime industry. Through qualitative analysis of perspectives from maritime professionals, lecturers, graduates, and government officers, the study identifies critical gaps in technology integration, environmental sustainability, and soft skills development. The research underscores the importance of industry collaboration, continuous learning, and adaptability in vocational education. By adopting human resource management strategies, schools can bridge the gap between education and industry, fostering stronger networks and preparing graduates for long-term success in a rapidly evolving maritime sector. The study emphasizes the role of internships, mentorships, and alumni networks in improving job placement and career advancement opportunities for maritime graduates. Keywords: , , ,

Integrating Challenge-Based Learning in a Vertical Classroom

The paper presents a case study illustrating the implementation of a combined master's level and third-year bachelor's Lab-on-a-Chip Microdevices course using a Challenge-Based Learning (CBL) approach. We describe the course's design, the implementation, and the observed impact of adopting this innovative approach. We use a survey and a focus group discussion to investigate students' perceptions of learning through the CBL approach. The gathered insights highlight the appreciation for practical application and industry collaboration in the course. Some issues related to class preparation and clarity of guidelines for working on challenges have also been identified, and a re-design addressing these issues was co-created between the instructors and students during the focus group session. Our study offers a blueprint for designing hands-on experiment-oriented courses in collaboration with industry and highlights the potential of CBL to enhance technical proficiency and foster innovation in interdisciplinary engineering education.

Maritime Supply Chain Optimisation: A Case Study of Blockchain Integration in Port Logistics Management

This research examines the potential for maritime supply chain optimisation through the integration of blockchain technology in port logistics management. In the era of global digitalisation, the maritime sector faces challenges to improve operational efficiency and transparency. This study uses a case study approach to evaluate the implementation of blockchain in one of Indonesia's major ports. The research methodology involved qualitative and quantitative analyses, including interviews with key stakeholders, direct observation of logistics processes, and analysis of historical port operational data. The blockchain system was implemented over a six-month period, and its performance was compared with conventional logistics management systems. Key challenges identified include the need for a large initial investment, resistance to change from some stakeholders, and the need for industry-wide standardisation of blockchain protocols. This research demonstrates the great potential of blockchain technology in optimising maritime supply chains. Recommendations for further implementation and future research are discussed, with an emphasis on the importance of industry collaboration and regulatory support to accelerate the adoption of this technology in the maritime sector.

The Road Home: Building the evidence base for a service delivery model that integrates housing, mental health, medical and legal services.

The evaluation of the Road Home (RH) program has revealed many learnings of interest to practitioners, researchers and evaluators. The focus of this analysis is twofold - on an innovative approach to building an evidence base using a developmental evaluation and action learning design and how research knowledge and skills can be applied in practitioner contexts and be robust, rigorous and above all useful. It particularly features the role of reflective practice, an affordable, underutilised and easy to access evaluation and program improvement method for practitioners working with evaluators and researchers. Appreciating what is involved in approaching evaluation and other forms of organisational research in this way is important if industry collaborations and innovations that bring theory to practice and practice to theory are to be successful.

Basic or applied research in university–industry collaborations? An analysis of research orientations in knowledge creation partnerships

AbstractIn a knowledge‐based economy, university–industry collaborations play a pivotal role in driving innovation and economic growth. This study investigates the research orientations of these collaborations, focusing on the balance between basic and applied research. Using data from 631 collaborative projects funded by the French Cifre PhD programme, we find that most projects emphasize basic research (61%), contradicting the common expectation that industry‐led partnerships primarily focus on applied research. Importantly, our analysis reveals that this preference for basic research is not contingent on traditional contextual factors such as scientific discipline, company size or university type. These findings challenge established assumptions in the literature and suggest that even in industry‐sponsored research, fundamental inquiry is critical in supporting long‐term innovation strategies. This paper contributes to the understanding of research orientations in university–industry collaborations and offers practical suggestions for enhancing these partnerships and informing research policy. Additionally, we outline a research agenda for further exploration of the factors influencing research orientations, the impact of early‐stage industry engagement and the role of policies in shaping collaboration outcomes.

Sketchar: Supporting Character Design and Illustration Prototyping Using Generative AI

Character design in games involves interdisciplinary collaborations, typically between designers who create the narrative content, and illustrators who realize the design vision. However, traditional workflows face challenges in communication due to the differing backgrounds of illustrators and designers, the latter with limited artistic abilities. To overcome these challenges, we created Sketchar, a Generative AI (GenAI) tool that allows designers to prototype game characters and generate images based on conceptual input, providing visual outcomes that can give immediate feedback and enhance communication with illustrators' next step in the design cycle. We conducted a mixed-method study to evaluate the interaction between game designers and Sketchar. We showed that the reference images generated in co-creating with Sketchar fostered refinement of design details and can be incorporated into real-world workflows. Moreover, designers without artistic backgrounds found the Sketchar workflow to be more expressive and worthwhile. This research demonstrates the potential of GenAI in enhancing interdisciplinary collaboration in the game industry, enabling designers to interact beyond their own limited expertise.

Sustainable Tourism Development in Karo District: A Disability-Friendly Planning Model through Government Policy and Industry Collaboration

The purpose of this study is basically to determine the direct and indirect effects of tourism development planning using accessibility and inclusiveness towards disability-friendly tourism through government policies in the field of Tourism Objects and the Hospitality Industry in Karo Regency. The method for analyzing the data in this study used descriptive statistical analysis with SPSS 21 software for Windows, and structural equation modeling – partial least squares (SEM-PLS) analysis with smartPLS 3 software. The study's findings provide insight into the following: government policies have a positive and significant impact on disability-friendly tourism; tourism accessibility has a positive and significant effect on disability-friendly tourism through government policies; inclusive tourism has a positive and significant effect on disability-friendly tourism; tourism accessibility has a positive and significant effect on disability-friendly tourism through government policies; tourism objects and the hospitality industry in Karo Regency have a positive and significant impact on disability-friendly tourism through government policies. Meanwhile, the findings of a disability-friendly tourism development planning model on Tourism Object and Hospitality Industry in Karo Regency, where the factors that need attention, namely: first, tourism accessibility including social issues, weather, development, management, actions, decisions, stimulus, psychological, cognitive, interpersonal, and treatment; second, inclusive tourism including representation, participation in decision making, promotion, respect and understanding, removing social barriers, coordination, supervision, responsibility, collaboration, integration, and digital literacy; third, government policies including regulations, incentives, social responsibility, clarity, convenience, policy formulation, decision making, policy implementation, and policy evaluation; fourth, disability-friendly tourism including information, management of tourist destinations, preferences for accommodation information, accommodation, easily accessible facilities, availability of disability support services, legal certainty, destination environment, and demographic profiles.

Building Collaborative Innovation Platforms for Engineering Education

The paper discusses the challenges of co-creating a 21st-century engineering, architecture, and urbanism curriculum in Egypt, emphasising the need for collaboration between the government, industry, and higher education providers. The paper aims to overcome barriers in the Government-University-Industry (GUI) nexus to align and enhance the engineering sector's contribution to Egypt's economic prosperity. The study identifies cultural, educational, and structural factors influencing innovation in Egypt and addresses gaps at the national, university, and program levels. The paper highlights the similarities of innovation landscape with the UK. The authors identified, poor communication and alignment between national goals, industrial strategy, and academic research that hinder engineering innovation in Egypt. The research highlights the inflexibility and lack of clarity in the current engineering curriculum, contrasting the evolving demands and advancements in engineering technology. The paper also refers to the UK Apprenticeship Education Programme as a possible model for improving industrial collaboration and discusses its relevance to Egypt's technical education initiatives.