How Industry Can Work with Researchers

Collaborative Research

Collaborative research may involve one industry partner and one university or multiple industry partners and universities pursuing a shared research agenda. There are many sources for potential funding. One specifically aimed at partnering with universities is the Small Business Technology Transfer program.

Consultant Services

Businesses may contract for consultant services with a faculty researcher or research institution on an hourly basis to tap into highly specialized expertise.

Licensing Agreements

Licensing is a way to access intellectual property and developed technologies, processes, and innovations from the university. Through a commercial contract, the business (licensee) gains the right to make, have-made, use, and sell a particular asset. This right may be exclusive or non-exclusive. Licenses often arise from collaborative or contract research inventions or products.

If you are interested in licensing a technology, contact the university's technology commercialization office.

Specialized Equipment

Our universities are home to cutting-edge equipment and one-of-a-kind facilities that may be attractive to businesses working at the leading edge of their industries. Arrangements to access such tools and the skills of university faculty and staff who are experts in their operation may offer significant benefits to your enterprise.

Faculty-Industry Internships

These university-industry personnel exchanges involve a faculty researcher going to work for a defined period in a commercial setting, or vice versa. The agreement and financial obligations vary from university to university. Reap the benefits of direct, daily collaboration between your employees and the university researcher to upgrade your techniques and technologies and stimulate new ideas. These arrangements can also enhance researchers' understanding of your industry's most pressing needs and interest them in developing innovative solutions.

Research Fellowships

Research projects often rely on the contributions of graduate students and postdoctoral researchers, in addition to full-time faculty members. By supporting fellowships for these less-established researchers, you can enhance the ability of the lead researcher to make discoveries and develop new products. Industry-sponsored fellowships also offer the opportunity to create positive relationships with future leaders in the field and expand understanding between the industry and the research community.

University-Level Relationships

Universities are highly visible in many areas of community life beyond simply education and research. By linking your company with the university's brand, you can enhance the reputation of your business while making an important contribution to the well-being of the community. Most universities welcome the involvement of industry leaders in advisory boards, lecture series, and conferences and as sponsors of award programs, concerts, competitions, sporting events, and other high-profile activities.