The exchange of teams between Companies and Universities is a major step forward in the collaboration process, with the aim of providing better infrastructure, establishing pilot programmes and initiating customer loyalty processes. This initial effort from the academic world is compensated by long-term benefits and improvements, since it facilitates training for educators, encourages students to acquire new technology skills and generates feedback from users of a specific type of technology. The tests carried out in the Universities and the feedback from students and teachers to Companies can also improve product quality orientation.

IBM

The multinational company IBM provides Universities with a range of resources including free access to hardware, complete software packages, specialised courses, tools, books, etc. This offers Universities direct access to emerging technologies whilst the IT giant benefits through the involvement of its personnel as tutors, members of the Advisory Council, lecturers, etc. Additionally, the company has access to students, who play a valuable role in improving the corporation’s internal educational systems, which are focused, amongst other things, on training future workers in specific areas in connection with the enhancement of creativity and the generation of new ideas.

Agents required for implementation

This recommendation can be implemented by a large company in collaboration with a University, or by a group of like-minded companies which apply the process in projects with academic centres.

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1. IBM responds to Lambert, review on Business - University Collaboration.