Cooperations strengthen Higher Education Institutions and Companies. Science-to-Business Marketing Research Centre presents results of an EU-Study
March 26, 2012
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The Science-to-Business Marketing Research Centre of the Münster University of Applied Sciences held its grounds against 20 other international applicants in competing for a research contract issued by the European Commission. Prof. Dr. Thomas Baaken, Todd Davey and Victoria Galan Muros were invited by the European Commission to present the results of the so far most comprehensive study on “University-Business-Cooperation” in Brussels. The investigation shows impact factors, drivers and barriers influencing the cooperation between higher education institutions and companies. “Once we won the research contract, the number of visits to our homepage increased to ten-times as much”, the project leader Todd Davey remembers. “All of a sudden a lot of people wanted to know what the Science Research Centre is”. As the head of the centre Baaken is very satisfied with this development: “To be honest, it was a surprise and great success for us to be contracted with a research volume of 200.000 Euro.” Since then, two years have past and the team of the research centre made good use of the time: with partners from England, Spain, Poland and the Netherlands they conducted an international survey. In total 6280 responses were generated in 33 countries. The main results can be summarised as follows: Cooperation between higher education institutions and industry are the basis for the future knowledge society. “University-Business-Cooperation” in Europe is still in its early stages. Factors, such as country size, economic situation and working experience of partners influence the cooperation, which have a complex biosphere in itself. Based on the study, missing resources are the main barrier in the development of relationships. Personal linkages and mutual trust commonly present “hygiene factors” for the collaboration. A benefit identifiable by everyone is the actual driver for cooperation. “Supporting mechanism such as transfer institutions or transfer officers are determining starting points for the development of cooperation with industry”, Baaken states from a higher education institution perspective. In respect to the study, the Münster University of Applied Sciences is on its best way with its subsidiary Transfer Agency GmbH. Related topic: The research and development centre Science Marketing developed with the concept of Science-to-Business Marketing the worldwide first strategic approach for the commercialisation of research competences, capacities and performances. Since 2002, 20 team members work on gathering scientific insights. Meanwhile, the team organised 10 international conferences, held approximately 250 presentations and workshops in 27 countries and developed 70 tools for Science Marketing. |
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