UNIVERSITY-INDUSTRY PARTNERSHIPS FOR POSITIVE CHANGE : transformational strategic alliances... towards un sdgs

Robust university–industry partnerships are vital to achieve the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and create a better world for everyone. Developing the theory and practice of the ‘5th Generation University’, this book shows how cross-sector collaboration and innovation are crucial to maximising the societal benefits of research, education and knowledge exchange, while also driving economic growth and productivity. The authors bring extensive experience in working at the interface between academia, industry and government to demonstrate how universities can effectively combine transdisciplinary programmatic activities and strategic corporate philanthropy. They explain how long-term alliances can be forged to have a transformational impact on the greatest challenges facing our world such as climate change. Front Cover Title Copyright Contents List of figures and tables List of abbreviations About the authors Acknowledgements Foreword Preface 1. A journey from transactional to transformational alliances Our journey The role of university–industry collaboration to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals Defining alliances Knowledge exchange: more than a ‘third mission’ Alliance goals for universities and industry – why collaborate? ‘Blue Ocean Strategy’: pioneering market creating innovation through collaboration How can universities avoid fragmentation in external engagement? Different knowledge exchange structures in universities and industry New trends: Impact investment, Tech for Good, Industry 4.0 and university accelerators Tipping point for an emerging next generation university Understanding the genealogy of universities Servant leadership, equality, reciprocity and the compassionate university Prioritising being the best ‘for’ the world, not the best ‘in the world The 5th generation university concept Value co-creation in 5th generation universities Recovering faster in a post-pandemic knowledge economy moving towards zero carbon Co-innovation for shared value creation A blended approach to alliances adopted by 5th generation universities Open innovation and entrepreneurial ecosystems driven by 5th generation universities Mapping tool to support 5th generation university planning to tackle United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Case study: How a transformational strategic alliance approach was applied to corporate engagement and philanthropy for a new campus development Lessons learned 2. Enabling an environment for transformational strategic alliances Objectives and key results of 5th generation universities The importance of an integrated approach for 5th generation universities Barriers to alliances The importance of alignment A holistic and integrated university approach to engaging corporates Craving recognition? Technology transfer Green jobs and post-pandemic recovery addressing climate action Responsible innovation Glocalisation Do all innovation pathways lead to Silicon Valley? Challenge-oriented and commercially aware strategy Embedding corporate engagement within your university strategy The UN’s Six Principles for Responsible Management Education Towards a more ethical capitalism? The B Corp Movement and Wellbeing Economies Measuring impact: the development of impact management systems Are you able to tell a great story about your university’s impact? Entrepreneurship Readiness Level and incentivisation of staff Understanding cultural differences between sectors Agility and resilience in academia The importance of in-kind and non-cash contributions from industry Purposeful partnerships Compassionate university community Innovation districts and ecosystems Student demand for work-based learning and upskilling Partnerships beyond the STEM disciplines The right people with the right skills How to create shared value across different university functions Equality, diversity and inclusion Reducing inequality (SDG 10) Transdisciplinary and multi-sector approach Operationalising the UN Sustainable Development Goals Wise, courageous, collaborative leadership and solutions Economic recovery and ‘levelling up’ through regional and transformational strategic alliances Disruption will reshape higher education Tool: UN Sustainable Development Goals engagement canvas for alignment assessment Case study: National Science Foundation Convergence Accelerator – an example of a government-led programme facilitating the emergence of 5th generation universities Lessons learned 3. Developing and managing alliances Collaborative, competitor and industry intelligence Stages of university–industry alliance development Alliance formation: laying the foundations through Vision, Strategy, Execution and Metrics Creating a menu of institutional assets Creating and nurturing trust: a stewardship approach Ten principles for building strong alliances Reaching out through your alumni network Workflow automation, customer relationship management systems and data visualisation Tool – Balanced Scorecard for keep track of Key Performance Indicators Case study: A longstanding transformational strategic alliance between a leading university and a large, multinational corporate Lessons learned 4. Leading and executing sustainable relationships Alliance design and governance Are you thinking 5th generationally? Internal restructuring to improve efficiency of alliance activity Tiering up and affiliate programmes Dealing with internal politics and barriers Pivoting through partnership and innovation: understanding market pull and technology push How long should an alliance last? Which sectors are most open to innovation? Brand awareness and due diligence Think global, act local Building collective will internally and externally Tool – How to negotiate a Minimum Viable Partnership Case study: a climate tech accelerator incorporating entrepreneurship training and innovation Lessons learned 5. Looking into the future: the next decade University leaders need foresight Changing approaches to strategic corporate philanthropy Trust, transparency and resilience and the growing importance of environmental, social and corporate governance criteria Greater focus on external engagement as a critical university function Non-traditional industry sectors will form university alliances Convergence research and innovation University procurement will become more holistically focused Lifelong learning and micro-credentials will become more important Curriculum co-design and workforce development The growing social innovation function of universities Capacity-building and greater cooperation across disciplines, cultures and countries Growth in international prizes and co-branded Centres of Excellence addressing societal challenges Greater government and public recognition of universities in economic recovery Case study – Horizon Europe and Transition Super-Labs: accelerating the transition to a zero-carbon economy in the EU through multi-sector alliances Lessons learned Conclusion Bibliography Notes Index Sharing the authors’ extensive experience in working at the interface between academia, industry and government, this book is designed to enable powerful university–industry partnerships that can play a pivotal role in achieving the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).