The evolution of academic research across the globe is generally fueled by the needs of the industry. Academia thrives on the quality of published articles in high-impact journals and conference proceedings. However, the generation of revenue is significantly dependent on the practical application of these research findings. So, there is a need to bridge the perceived gap between theoretical or laboratory-scale research and industrial requirements. This calls for thought leadership to encourage collaborative innovations between academia and industry, to encourage further in-depth research, aligned with the industrial needs. This vision can fuel the establishment of start-ups where cutting-edge research converges with entrepreneurial execution through industry-academia partnerships.
The most transformative research ideas are no longer restricted to laboratories or computer simulations. Rather, a seamless transition from academia to industry is a smart and strategic mode of thought leadership for investors, policymakers, and corporate innovation teams. Start-ups fueled by industry-academia collaborations can not only solve complex practical problems, but they can also pave the way ahead for future businesses, standard codes of practice, and policy regulations.
Industry-academia partnerships have been traditionally centered on resource sharing and technology transfer. Academic institutions receive funds from specific industries to explore different products or processes that can result in the procurement of funds for equipment or infrastructure, or provide financial support for research scholars. Sometimes, these research ventures result in groundbreaking outcomes that are patented and used in practice. However, there are several scenarios where the academic research outcomes do not meet the desired outcomes of the industry.
To ensure a symbiotic juxtaposition, there is a need for co-leadership in the form of start-up ventures that can provide a fusion between academic vision and industrial goals. Academic institutions nurture thought leaders by design. They generate original and occasionally utopian ideas to develop technologies that can redefine existing paradigms. On the contrary, industry offers strategic and pragmatic foresight, coupled with streamlined operations to deliver faster market-ready solutions. Combining the resources of academia and industry can thus lead to the establishment of start-ups that can champion innovation while adhering to the needs of the commercial sectors.
The need of the hour is thus to develop such ecosystems that deliver not just products, but also a keen perspective, by virtue of rigorous research and entrepreneurial proclivity. Using strategic collaboration, such start-ups can set benchmarks for thought leadership by combining diverse concepts such as materials engineering, biotechnology, and Artificial Intelligence. Prime examples of these technological collaborations are seen in the form of bacteria-infused concrete in the Netherlands or Alkali-Activated Concrete in Australia, France, and the UK. Further examples can be seen in the applications of 3D concrete printing in Denmark and other Western countries. Life Cycle Assessments have evinced the environmental benefits of these materials. However, the lack of global standardization limits these innovations mainly to small-scale and prefabricated or precast applications. There is great potential for the industries to tap into these alternative solutions to traditional construction practices for long-term benefits. Developing stat-ups to demonstrate the practical utility of such technologies can also encourage policymakers to rethink their strategies and make further investments in the development of infrastructure.
Shifting to a new technology will mandate training and skill development in the working personnel. This will create more opportunities for jobs in interdisciplinary fields where academic graduates can make a smooth transition to the industry. Academic institutions can include courses in their curriculum to provide industrial exposure to the students in the form of internships or industry-guided theses. This will enable the students to gain awareness about the latest industrial innovations that are not always within the scope of traditional academic coursework. This can facilitate the development of industry-ready skillset in fresh graduates and reduce the risk of impractical results associated with solely academic research and ensure satisfactory investment of funds provided by the industrial stakeholders.
At its core, collaborative innovation between industry and academia is a model of shared thought leadership. It combines the intellectual curiosity of the university with strategic commercial acumen. Hence, start-ups are the natural beneficiaries and flagbearers of this synergistic model. In addition to generating revenue, they can encourage innovation and influence future generations to create a sustainable societal ecosystem for the next few centuries.
By Aakash Shukla, Manager Sales - South
Long Products Projects & Solutions, Tata Steel Limited
and
Arkamitra Kar, Associate Professor,
Department of Civil Engineering, BITS Pilani (Hyderabad)
