ABSTRACT: 2014 ELATE Institutional Action Project Poster Symposium
Project Title: Optimizing the Value of University-Industry Partnerships
Name and Institution: Sara Wadia-Fascetti, Northeastern University
Collaborators:
Melvin Bernstein, Senior Vice Provost for Research & Graduate Education (Mentor)
Susan Ambrose, Senior Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education & Experiential Learning
Center for Research Innovation: Tracey Dodenhoff (Director), Joel Bresler & Mark Saulich
Kostas Institute for Homeland Security: Peter J. Boynton (co-Director)
David Luzzi, Executive Director Strategic Security Initiative
Simon Pitts, Director Gordon Engineering Leadership
Background, Challenge or Opportunity: The traditional relationship between universities and academia
includes cooperation across education through career services, professional societies, projects, and
guest speakers. Cooperative education programs deepen the relationship with industry and enhance
the career development of students. Research is supported by industry through a variety of
mechanisms including individual grants, gifts, research centers, and consortia. University tech transfer
offices that serve as a portal to industry have evolved from marketing IP to stimulating the development
of start-ups and the implementation of other ventures designed to promote innovation. The federal
government and organizations such as the National Academies have created numerous programs to
build stronger relationships, enhance access, and facilitate partnerships. With all of these programs in
place, there still remains an opportunity for universities to work more aggressively with industry, in
particular mid-sized companies, in research and development efforts.
Purpose/Objectives: The objective of this project is to leverage Northeastern University’s century of
experience with cooperative education to identify opportunities that deepen the value of partnerships
with industry. The immediate opportunity is to increase faculty and student engagement with industry.
The long-term goal is to identify pathways that drive use-inspired research performed by Northeastern
faculty into commercialization and use by society. The broader goal is to support the national effort to
bridge the “valley of death”. This project builds on Northeastern activities through the Center for
Research Innovation, the Kostas Institute for Homeland Security, and education programs that partner
with industry such as the Gordon Engineering Leadership program to propose mechanisms that will
support the needs of both the university and industry. The ultimate goal is to develop programs that
respond to industry needs while enabling faculty, students, and industry partners to engage in research
and education within an ecosystem that supports Northeastern and industry in long-term symbiotic
partnerships.
Methods/Approach: Existing strategies (promoted by government, universities, and industry) to
promote industry partnerships with universities are reviewed. The goals for industry and Northeastern
in a research and education partnership are identified. The difference in organizational culture between
academia and industry is analyzed. The differences between the two cultures are identified and are
described as gaps between the two cultures. Strategies to bridge the cultural gaps are proposed.
Outcomes and Evaluation: The result is a vision for how Northeastern will be an agile partner with
industry providing critical research and development for mid-sized technology companies in addition to
a skilled workforce. This vision includes a family of strategies designed to bridge the cultural gaps
enabling Northeastern to engage in long-term partnerships across many mid-sized companies.