Collaborations between universities and businesses – case studies
Find out how cities can promote collaborations with universities and businesses in our case studies library.
Find out how cities can promote collaborations with universities and businesses in our case studies library.
Knowledge intensive businesses and services are significant drivers of growth, and are increasingly urban. For many UK cities, their greatest concentration of knowledge and innovation is their universities, so national and local decision makers are increasingly looking to support collaborations between universities and high-growth firms.
Cities can promote collaborations with universities and businesses by taking advantage of their history and brand, building cross-border networks, investing in local strengths and anchoring relationships through large firms.
| Case study | Policy aim | Location | Country | Lead organisation(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Supporting informal networks opportunities | Foster and maintain strong university-business relationships over time | Cambridge | UK | Cambridge University and Science Park |
| 2. Providing resources and certainty with long-term federal funding | Foster and maintain strong university-business relationships over time | Cities across Germany | Germany | Fraunhofer Gesellschaft |
| 3. Supporting staff-sharing and international links | Foster and maintain strong university-business relationships over time | Strathclyde | UK | Fraunhofer Centre for Applied Photonics |
| 4. Matching industry needs with university strengths | Bring together universities and businesses to validate investments | North England | UK | N8 Group |
| 5. Fostering a culture of open innovation through collaboration | Bring together universities and businesses to validate investments | Scotland | UK | Interface Food & Drink |
| 6. Using sector specific expertise | Support collaboration where there is comparative advantage | Middlesbrough | UK | Teesside University and Digital City Innovation |
| 7. Providing a dedicated networking space outside the ‘university bubble’ | Support collaboration where there is comparative advantage | Bristol | UK | Engine Shed |
| 8. Bringing networks within the campus | Support collaboration where there is comparative advantage | Sheffield | UK | The University of Sheffield Enterprise |
| 9. Capitalising on place specific relationships with major companies | Attract investment to the city | Helsinki | Finland | Helsinki University and Nokia |
| 10. Using large ‘anchor’ firms | Attract investment to the city | Warwick and Sheffield | UK | Warwick Manufacturing Group |
| 11. Building on informal alumni networks | Support collaboration without getting the city involved | Silicon Valley | California, Us | Y Combinator |
