Best Practices for Collaboration Between Academia and Private Sector

Transcription

1 Best Practices for Collaboration Between Academia and Private Sector Kornel Farkas Director, Program Development, Stronach Centre for Innovation Adjunct Professor, University of Toronto 1

2 Origin of COLLABORATE Late Latin collaboratus, past participle of collaborare to labor together, from Latin com- + laborare to labor First appeared as collaboration in French: First known use in English: 1871 to cooperate with or willingly assist an enemy of one's country and especially an occupying force to work jointly with others especially in an intellectual endeavor 2

3 Earliest form of scientist - private sector collaboration Anatomy studies on corpses Leonardo da Vinci undertaker Marcantonio della Torre, professor of anatomy, University of Pavia, Lombardy, Italy Bone and muscle anatomy study, Leonardo da Vinci,

4 Research collaboration is expected to yield new knowledge for all participating parties that they can apply to further their expertise and improve their research and market potentials. Intellectual property is managed. Results are published in co-authorship. 4

5 When and what gave momentum to academia industry R&D collaboration? 18 th century: Age of enlightenment, rational and scientific approach 19 th century: Industrial revolution, need for technical universities 20 th century: R&D collaboration almost non-existent until the start of 1970s Today: Everywhere So, why the dramatic shift in attitude? Growing awareness of the unsuitability (for industrial purposes) of many traditional university courses, including those in science and technology Rapid development of new information technologies Budgetary cuts and the need for universities to seek new resources Source: Ladislav Cerych, Univerity-Industry Collaboration; European Journal of Education, Vol.24, No. 3,

6 R&D Collaboration 6

7 Potentials of Research Collaboration Access to expertise Access to resources Exchange of ideas, especially across disciplines Pooling expertise for complex problems Keeping own activities focused Learning new skills Higher productivity Higher quality of results Access to funding Prestige Political factors Personal factors Fun and pleasure Source: Bukvova, H. (2010). "Studying Research Collaboration: A Literature Review,". Sprouts: Working Papers on Information Systems, 10(3). 7

8 Effective Funding Leverage Industry Contribution Government Matching All industrial funding can be matched by both the federal and provincial governments

9 Government Funding Programs Federal Government of Canada NSERC Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council a) CRDs b) Discovery Grants c) Engage d) Frontiers SSHRC Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council NCEs Network Centres of Excellence a) Auto 21 b) CECR (Commercialization and Research) CFI Canada Foundation for Innovation APC Automotive Partnership Canada Provincial Government of Ontario OCE Ontario Centres of Excellence a) Advanced Manufacturing b) ICT & Digital Media c) Earth & Energy ORF Ontario Research Fund RI Research Infrastructure

10 10 Funding for Collaborative Research Industry-University Project Industry Cash $50K Industry In-Kind $50K Industry Cash Canada Match Ontario Match $ 50K 100K 50K Canada NSERC SHERC NCEs Auto 21 CECR CFI APC Ontario OCE Advanced Manufacturing ICT & Digital Media Earth & Energy ORF-RI Total Cash Industry In-Kind $ 200K 50K Total $ 250K Apply Canadian R&D tax credits and $ 50K industry cash nets down to $20K for SMEs, $ 30K for Corporations

11 11 Research Cost Comparison USA Canada PhD Student Costs $50K 100K/year $20K 25K/year Professor Salaries 75% University 25% Research Funds 100% University University Overhead ~100% ~30% University research is considerably more affordable in Canada

12 12 Industry-University Research in Canada Long tradition of institution based industrial research in Canada Strong government support significant matching funds available Low university overhead and tuition fee Canada very cost competitive for collaborative industryacademic R&D

13 13 Intellectual Property Stringent IP policies can scare industry away! Best practice: Inventor-Owned IP Policy No IP to the university IP to industry partner and researcher

14 Training Collaboration 14

15 University of Toronto Magna SCFI Training Program Overview The Stronach Centre for Innovation training program can be considered as Magna University where accredited university courses are being developed and offered on-site at Magna to satisfy the training needs of Magna groups and divisions. This graduate-level university program is designed based on inputs from participating Magna divisions, managed by the Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering at the University of Toronto and is leading to a Master s Degree in Engineering (M.Eng.) or a Certificate. 15

16 The curriculum is developed by Magna, the University of Toronto and professors from 12 other universities 16

17 Graduate-Level University Training in Engineering Sciences and Innovation Management Hands-On Innovation Project Work Curriculum, learning objectives and project goals are designed to best serve the needs of Magna groups and divisions. 17

18 Special Features of the Program Program development and management is driven by Magna Practical learning through hands-on project work Every student works on an innovation project approved by his Magna division Course assignments support project work Lecturers are hand picked from several universities and leading technology companies based on their practical experience Multi-faceted projects can be supervised by more than one professor and university M.Eng. Degree or Certificate is given by the University of Toronto 18

19 Hands-on Innovation Project Work M.Eng. Thesis Project: The student works on the engineering aspect of an innovation project (development/optimization of a product, process, material, or engineering tool/methodology) by applying proper engineering sciences The student has to work a minimum of 500 engineering hours on the project under the supervision of a professor and has to submit an M.Eng. thesis to the university 19

20 Four Innovation Management Courses: 1 Innovation Finance Course Credits Intellectual Property: Protecting and Exploiting Innovations Innovation Management 1 Innovation Management 2 Three Technical Courses: Technical courses specially designed by Magna with the help of U of T and participating Canadian universities. One Engineering Project : Engineering innovation project through Magna division/group that is being worked on during the entire training program counts as 3 M.Eng. technical courses. 10 Credits = M.Eng. Degree Obtained 20

21 Certificate Program Best suited for non-university graduates: tool and die makers or technologists Curriculum and courses are identical to those of the M.Eng. program. Project report Certificate will be issued by the University of Toronto 21

22 % of Student Enrollment Current SCFI Students Distribution of the students based on job function: Program Manager Project Engineer Senior/Lead Engineer Program Coordinator Engineering Manager Designer Plant Manager Technologist AGM Tool & Die Maker Executive VP 22

23 Examples of Successfully Completed Projects Mechanical & Industrial Electrical Materials Seat mechanism DC Electric motor Shape memory alloys Transmission clutch Battery Magnesium joining Oil pump, Water pump Actuators High deformation forming of aluminum Window mechanism Lighting Laser welding Gear mechanisms Sound system acoustics Aluminum joining Fatigue Sensors Heat treatment Vibration Motor control Steel alloy development Complex welded structures Dashboard system Polycarbonate material Computational Fluid Dynamics Video system Composites Heat transfer and thermal shock Driver alert Lubricants Ergonomics Electric energy management Adhesives Logistics and layout optimization Vision system Paints and coatings 23

24 Tangible Financial Success The SCFI R&D projects have yielded: Over 30 new patents Over 25 new proprietary technologies Over 100 new products Numerous new know-how New services $... in cost savings $... in SR&ED tax credit $... of new business #... of new customers 24

25 Conclusion 25

26 Key Potentials of Research Collaboration Access to expertise Access to resources Exchange of ideas, especially across disciplines Pooling expertise for complex problems Learning new skills Higher productivity Higher quality of results Access to funding Prestige Personal factors Fun and pleasure 26

27 Benefits of industry-academia collaboration Influences academic research - supports industry research Modernizes university curriculum Enhances product/process development capability of industry Spreads the culture of innovation Boosts economy Thank you! 27

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29 Appendix Federal and Provincial Funding Mechanisms to Support R&D (Canada and Ontario) Compiled by McMaster University researchers

30 Research Funding in Canada Many mechanisms in place to support and promote innovation Tax Credits (SR&ED) National Research Council Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada University Research Labs Example: Government support for collaborative research with Universities and for equipment at Universities

31 Scientific Research and Experimental Development (SR&ED) Federal and Provincial Tax incentive program encourage Canadian businesses of all sizes and in all sectors to conduct research and development (R&D) lead to new, improved, or technologically advanced products or processes. SR&ED investment tax credits for expenditures such as wages, materials, machinery, equipment, some overhead, and SR&ED contracts. Federal: Provincial:

32 Federal Support Programs National Research Council Research institutes covering a wide range of expertise Industrial Research Assistance Program Technical and business advisory services customized to your specific needs. Financial Support for small to medium sized companies Industry Canada Wide range of Support Programs and Services

33 Support for Industry and Academia Research Collaboration Federal Funding for Research Projects Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) Engage: $25,000 for first interaction with a Professor Collaborative Research and Development Grant 1:1 Matching on cash and in-kind Industrial Research Chairs Strategic Network Grants Example: Automotive Partnership Canada

34 Support for Industry and Academia Research Collaboration Ontario Funding for Research Projects Ontario Research Fund Research Excellence Ontario Centres of Excellence Commercialization Programs Technology Transfer Partnerships Generally 1:1 Matching on cash and in-kind Can in special cases be combined with Federal Programs Can get leveraging as high as $4 Government for $1 Industry Cash contributions.

35 Support for Industry and Academia Research Collaboration Funding for Research Equipment at Universities Federal - Canadian Foundation for Innovation Infrastructure funding to build capability at Universities Provincial - Ontario Research Fund Infrastructure funding which matches the Federal program