Fostering the collaboration of academia, industry, and research organizations

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Dr. K.R.Suresh Nairdrkrsnair@gmail.com

Outline

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Interests of Academia, Research Institute and Industry

Inhibitions

Steps involved: “Mind to Market”

Case Studies

Suggestions for better collaborations

Summary

Academia

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• Teaching and basic research

• Mainly interested in publishing papers in journals of good impact factor.

• Undertakes government funded projects: Basic R&D in nature

• No good documentation : Technology may vanish with the student

• Good amount of research going on

• Good government funding

• Publications and patents

• Applied Research: Lab prototypes in shelves

• Proof of concept: using Standard equipment

• Successful Technology transfer: Very few

• No good documentation

• Not interested in basic research

• Limited R&D investments

• Strength in productisation, commercialisation

• Not many are dealing with State of the art technologies

• Some have own R&D, with good expertise

• Not much confidence in taking technology from institute

Research Institute Industry

This is how an Electronics industry looks like….

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SMT Assembly Lines

Manual and auto Through Hole, SMT , BGA,uBGA

ROHS Line

capabilityNo clean, Water Wash capabilityConformal Coating

rayICT, FCT Capability, AOI, X rayEnvironmental / Burn in Testing

Collaborations

Institutions, Industry, Students and Society to gain.

Advantage Industries:

– Use academia’s knowledge bases to improve Cost, Quality

– Do Innovation and be globally competitive

– Less dependence on foreign know how

– Less internal R&D expenditure

– Can improve the level through Management programs

Advantage Academia

– Satisfaction of realising their knowledge used for socially productive process

– Easy placement and training opportunities for students

– Improved financial sustainability

– Faculty: Exposure to industry leading to improved curricula as well as teaching perspectives

– Students: Less learning curve in industrial practices

– Society: Gains on improved quality of goods and services

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Academia Industry Interaction leads to:

– Strengthening Competitiveness

– Promoting Innovation

– New Technology development

– Ensuring quantity and quality of human resource base

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Although the concept of academia Industry interaction is many decades old, nothing much has happened especially in India mainly due to “Attitudinal Differences”

Industry side:

– Insensitivity to or lack of awareness on the resource potential of academia

– Easy availability of foreign know how

– Obsession with expensive high profile professional consultants

– Compulsions of existing technical collaboration agreements

– Bad experience with academia in the past

– Want to keep solutions to problems confidential to have competitive edge

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Inhibitions

� Academia� Apathy towards applied research� Do not want to leave the comfort zone of “ pure teaching”� Inadequate marketing strength to sell in industry� Lack of critical mass of experts and specialised technical infrastructure

� Restrictive internal policies to collaborate with industries� Largely ignorant about industrial and national needs� Inadequate recognition for practicing faculty than pure academicians.

� Industry Academia interaction can not be forced� Academia should feel motivated for this type of interaction� Industry should see as a profitable to itself� Industry lacks in viewing knowledge as sustainable competitive resource

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Inhibitions

R&D in India

A technology player industry needs research to bring out newer products in the market place.

Even a services company can benefit from research, particularly if it is a large player.

Research can help the company forimprovement in quality, lowering costs, and creating more value.

As the Engineering design work shifts to India, there is a need for R&D to also shift to India.

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Innovation

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Process of translating an idea or invention into a product or service that creates value or for which customers will pay.

All innovative ideas may not end up in good business.

Successful products need not be that innovative.

But better chances are that innovative products will end up

in good business.

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Steps involved: “Mind to Market”

Stages in development

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IDEA (Innovator)

PROOF OF CONCEPT(R&D)

DESIGN( Electronics, mechanical, Industrial , Power, RF,

DFx)

MANUFACTURING

SALES & MARKETING

Incubation

(concentrate on idea,

Subsidised space,

facilities)

Investor

Company

Case Study:Academia - Industry Collaboration

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Academia Industry Collaboration

In India, the engineering educationsystem, is currently not in best ofshape

The industry and the establishededucation players will have to pitch in.

Some companies and institutes havestarted some initiatives of their ownon this front.

This seems like a very viable area forcollaboration, where joint programshave a better chance of success.

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� Project work at NeST� NeST designed Elective papers

and took one semester� Jointly hosted International

conference

Case Study:Research Institute -Industry Collaboration

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Erbium Doped Fiber Amplifier

When Optical signals become weak,this is converted into electrical,reshaped and amplified and thenreconverted to optical.

EDFA can amplify optical signalwithout changing the media.

A joint development was undertakenwith CGCRI (CSIR Lab) Kolkatta.

The product is commercialised andeven exported to USA.

Market issues.

Won CSIR Technology Award.

Industry still buying the specialty fiberfrom CSIR

Royalty is given to CSIR for everyproduct sold.

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CSIR Technology Award for Most Significant CSIR Technology of the Five Year Plan Period-2012

CSIR Logo

Lab to market

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Patient trials at Govt Dental College, Trivandrum

18Ethical Clearance Certificate

Case Study:R&D at Industry

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Fiber To The Home Products

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• Audio, Video and data on single fiber

• Developed a series of systems

• Fiber Distribution Terminal

• Fiber Distribution Hub• Designed, developed and

now commercialised• The manufacturing facility

set up• The products undergone

tests at Telcordia labs, USA

• Competed globally• Major customers, Verizon,

USA, French Telecom.

Suggestions for better collaboration

Research scholars to become more industry relevantJoint Projects and programs: Outputs shall reach market placeConsortia for basic and applied R&D.Technology transfer and new venture creationEnhance compensation of academicians, fund from industriesTax incentives for joint collaborative workCSIR has got good programs:– New Millennium Indian Technology Leadership Initiatives(NMITLI)

– Small Business Research Initiatives (SBIRI)

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Academia, Research Institute and Industry are standing apart, keeping a gap.

Unless a close association happens, it will be difficult to survive in long term.

Win-win partnership.

More acceptable terms and measures to be in place to gain mutual confidence.

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Summary

Thank You

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