University and businesses: how can we work together?

One of the main mechanisms for collaboration is through participation in R&D&I projects presented in public-private funding calls. Said calls allow the development of projects with economic support, promoting innovation and knowledge transfer. A good example at a European level is Pathfinder, from the European Innovation Council. For instance, thanks to this call, a biomedical company could associate with UAB researchers to develop a nanomedicine dispositive that improves drug administration and could benefit from getting funding for the validation of its technology and its scalability. 

At a national level, there are also numerous calls that promote collaboration among businesses and research groups. Some of the most relevant are the Proyectos de Colaboración Público-Privada, funded by the Agencia Estatal de Investigación or the Proyectos de I+D de Transferencia Tecnológica Cervera, by the Centro para el Desarrollo Tecnológico y la Innovación (CDTI). In these cases, for example, a company focused on renewable energy might collaborate with UAB in the development of new photovoltaic materials through the help of the CDTI, getting funds for lab tests and prototyping. 

Companies might also directly hire UAB to make specific studies through collaboration agreements. These contracts allow businesses to access the experience and equipment of the University without the need of taking part in public funding calls.

There are different types of agreements, adapted to the needs of each case. Specific R&D agreements are accords in which UAB develops applied research projects in collaboration with a business to solve a specific tech problem. For example, a pharmaceutical company may ask for preclinical trials of a new drug at the UAB labs. Through a collaboration agreement, the main goals, deadlines, costs and intellectual property aspects are defined, ensuring that the results will be applicable to the needs of the company. 

There is also the possibility of creating assessment agreements, where UAB experts collaborate with companies in more generic areas, such as tech strategy, innovation, regulations, or knowledge transfer.

UAB promotes the training of specialized talent through the program of industrial PhDs, in which a doctoral student works both at university and in a private business to develop an applied research to a specific need of the private sector. This model allows for companies to have highly trained researchers focused on their specific needs, while the student develops a project with a real impact in the industry.

From the beginning of this programme, promoted by the Department of Research and Universities of the Catalan Government, UAB has made 180 projects, becoming the third university with the most industrial PhDs.

On the other hand, business chairs allow for the establishment of long-term collaborations between UAB and the private sector in strategic research areas. Through these chairs, a private business funds training and research activities on a specific subject, with a minimal contribution of 30k€ per year for at least three years. Currently, in our University you may find eleven active research chairs.

Companies might also access UAB scientific installations and equipment that allow to make trials and tests or validate products without the need of making an investment in infrastructure. 

Currently, UAB has at its disposal scientific-technical services and service delivery laboratories in both transversal and specific areas, such as biological, chemical and structural analysis, as well as animal and food experimentation. 

For example, a manufacturer of new materials might use the electronic microscopes of the university to characterise the structure of a new compound and evaluate its industrial viability.

UAB also promotes the continued training of professionals in business sector. Through training programmes, specialised courses and postgraduate degrees, companies might update their knowledge and strengthen the skills of their personnel.

In this regard, new micro-credentials play a key role. These digital certifications credit the acquisition of specific professional skills through short-term training experiences, around 6 ECTS.

UAB, for example, offers micro-credentials in skills such as digitalisation, artificial intelligence applied to industry, and sustainability.

The UAB Research Park organises innovation conferences, technological fairs, and networking meetings where companies can discover firsthand the research being conducted and find opportunities for collaboration.

In this context, a special event is the UAB Innovation Fair, a space in which researchers, start-ups, and companies present their technological advancements and explore possible synergies. In this fair, businesses might discover emerging technologies developed at the university, attend live demonstrations, and connect with experts in their area of expertise.

The UAB Research Park promotes open innovation as well, through participative methodologies, where companies, start-ups, researchers, and administration collaborate in co-creation and prototyping sessions to develop specific and applicable solutions. 

All in all, collaboration among universities and businesses is not only possible but is more and more imperative in a world in which innovation is a key factor for competitiveness. UAB, through the UAB Research Park, offers a great array of services to enable said connections. Exploring these opportunities allows businesses to stay at the forefront of innovation, and the UAB to fulfil its mission of transferring knowledge to society.