Introduction
In today’s competitive global landscape, effective collaboration between academia and industry (industry includes all types of companies- MNCs, startups, to any company in India regardless of size segment etc.) is essential for driving technological advancements and innovation. India, with its growing pool of academic research talent and capability and a rapidly evolving research ecosystem, offers immense potential for industry seeking to collaborate in R&D. However, despite the opportunities, several barriers—ranging from slow decision-making processes to the lack of real-world data—continue to hamper these collaborations. By addressing these challenges, industry and academic institutions can build more productive, mutually beneficial partnerships that accelerate innovation and technological progress.
This paper explores the challenges faced by ecosystem in collaborating with Indian academia and presents strategies for overcoming them, fostering a more dynamic and effective ecosystem of research and development. Inputs in this thought leadership paper are gathered from the roundtable organized at Nasscom Future Forge 2024, in which stakeholders like academia and industry participated.
1. Industry Conservative Nature and Slow Approval Processes
Industry often follow a conservative approach, with slow approval processes for research collaborations. These approvals can take six months to a year, making it difficult to execute timely collaborations and innovate at the required pace.
- Challenge: Decision-making within industry is often centralized and involves multiple layers of approval, creating bottlenecks and delays that impede swift collaboration with academic institutions.
- Solution: Industry should consider decentralizing decision-making power, allowing local teams to engage more proactively with Indian academia. Streamlining approval processes for R&D initiatives will foster quicker and more effective partnerships.
2. Mismatch in Expected vs. Actual Outcomes
The expectations from industry and the outcomes from academic research often do not align, leading to dissatisfaction on both sides. Industry may expect immediate, market-ready solutions, while academic institutions may focus on long-term research outcomes.
- Challenge: Industry may not fully understand the pace and nature of academic research, leading to a mismatch between the outcomes they anticipate and the results that academia delivers.
- Solution: It is critical for both industry and academia to clearly define the goals and expected outcomes of collaborations from the outset. Regular meetings and discussions can ensure that both sides are aligned in terms of expectations and deliverables.
3. Access to Real-World Data Sets
A significant challenge in Academia-R&D collaboration is the difficulty in obtaining real-world data that can help researchers develop practical solutions to industry problems. Industry may be reluctant to share proprietary data, while academia may lack access to current, large-scale data sets that are crucial for meaningful research.
- Challenge: The absence of real-time, relevant data hinders the ability of academic researchers to develop solutions that directly address industry needs.
- Solution: Industry should invest in establishing secure data-sharing frameworks with academic institutions. These frameworks would allow for the sharing of anonymized or non-sensitive data, fostering a deeper collaboration that benefits both parties.
4. Lack of Awareness of India’s Academic Capabilities
Despite India's rapidly growing R&D ecosystem, industry still underestimate the potential and capabilities of Indian academic institutions. This lack of awareness prevents companies from exploring fruitful partnerships.
- Challenge: Industry may not have a clear understanding of the depth and breadth of academic capabilities in India, resulting in missed opportunities for collaboration.
- Solution: Industry should engage in outreach programs and academic exchange initiatives to better understand India’s academic landscape. By attending conferences, hosting seminars, and supporting collaborative research projects, industry can uncover untapped resources and talents within Indian academia.
5. No Centralized Platform for Tracking Technology Progress
One of the key barriers to effective collaboration is the absence of a unified platform that tracks the progress of technology and research being developed within academia. Without such a platform, industry may find it difficult to identify emerging innovations in real time.
- Challenge: A lack of transparency and centralized tracking systems makes it challenging for industry to keep pace with academic innovations and their potential applications.
- Solution: Establishing a centralized platform that tracks academic research and technological advancements would allow to stay updated and make informed decisions about potential collaborations. This platform could also serve as a hub for joint projects, funding opportunities, and research updates.
6. The Need for More Regular Communication
Communication between academia and industry is often sporadic and lacks structure, leading to misunderstandings and missed opportunities for collaboration.
- Challenge: Inconsistent communication results in a disconnect between academia’s research output and industry’s practical needs, stifling the potential for collaboration.
- Solution: Academia and industry should engage in regular communication through scheduled meetings, workshops, and collaborative events. Creating a formalized structure for interaction would ensure both parties are aligned on research goals and application timelines.
7. Importance of Time Horizon in R&D
Academic research typically operates on longer timelines than the fast-paced, short-term objectives of industry. This misalignment can create frustration and hinder the pace of collaboration.
- Challenge: Industry may demand immediate results, while academic research often requires years of study before practical outcomes can be realized.
- Solution: Industry and academia must agree on a mutually acceptable time horizon for research outcomes, balancing the need for long-term research with the urgency of commercializing innovations.
8. From Academic Publication to Real-World Application
While academic publications are critical for advancing knowledge, they often fail to make the leap to real-world applications. This disconnect limits the impact of academic research on industry problems.
- Challenge: There is often a gap between academic publications and the practical, market-ready solutions that industries need.
- Solution: To bridge this gap, industry and academia should focus on translating academic research into commercially viable products or solutions. Establishing joint commercialization initiatives, incubators, and accelerators can ensure that academic innovations reach the market.
9. Involving Private and Low-Tier Universities
While collaborations between industry and top-tier public universities in India are common, private and lower-tier universities often go unnoticed, despite having valuable research capabilities.
- Challenge: Private and low-tier universities are often excluded from the R&D ecosystem, limiting the diversity of ideas and innovations that can emerge from collaborations.
- Solution: Industry should look beyond the traditional top-tier universities and actively engage with private and lower-tier institutions. These universities often have untapped potential and can offer fresh perspectives and innovative ideas.
10. Clarity of Outcome is Essential
A lack of clarity regarding the expected outcomes of an academic-industry collaboration can lead to confusion and inefficiency. Clear, measurable outcomes are critical to ensuring the success of these partnerships.
- Challenge: Without clearly defined goals and expectations, both industry and academia may struggle to achieve mutually beneficial outcomes.
- Solution: Clear communication and agreement on the outcomes, timelines, and deliverables should be established at the beginning of each collaboration. Regular checkpoints should be used to assess progress and adjust goals if necessary.
11. Sponsored Research Programs
Sponsored research programs, where industries fund academic research, offer a promising avenue for collaboration. These programs can bridge the gap between theoretical research and practical application, but they are often underutilized.
- Challenge: Industry may be hesitant to fund academic research due to concerns over intellectual property and the applicability of the research to their business needs.
- Solution: Sponsored research programs should be structured to ensure mutual benefit. Industry should establish clear terms regarding intellectual property rights and provide funding for research that aligns with industry needs.
12. Linking Long-Term Research with Financial Outcomes
For academia to better align with industry, it is crucial to connect long-term research outcomes with tangible financial benefits. Research should not only advance knowledge but also contribute to the economic growth of companies.
- Challenge: Academia and industry may not always see the direct link between research outcomes and financial performance.
- Solution: Academia should work with Industry to ensure that research is linked to practical, financially viable applications. Joint funding models and research grants can be structured to encourage research that has a clear financial impact.
Conclusion
Effective Academia-R&D collaboration holds the key to unlocking significant innovation and economic growth. While several challenges—such as slow decision-making, misaligned expectations, and data access—exist, they can be overcome through clearer communication, structured platforms, and stronger partnerships between industry and academia. By embracing flexible, long-term strategies and focusing on practical, real-world applications, Industry and academic institutions can drive technological advancement and create a more dynamic, competitive ecosystem in India.
Author:
- Ashish Gupta: Nasscom deeptech & startups
List of Roundtable Participants:
- Atul Batra, Product & Startup Ecosystem Advisor
- Muthusamy Chelliah, Flipkart
- Debdoot Mukherjee, Meesho (Moderator)
- Vijay Anand, Apree Health
- Prof. Krishna Palem
- Rakhi Awasthi, Artivatic.AI
- VLK, Pavestone Capital
- Cdr. Anil Rana, MIT Manipal
- Arjun Rao, Speciale Invest (Moderator)
- Prof. Gourav Dwivedi, IIT Delhi
- Rahul Kumar, Maruti Suzuki
- Utkarsh Mishra , Hero Moto
- Preeti Choudhary, Harvest Global
- Bhat Dittakavi, IIT Hyderabad
- Lokesh Tripathi, Intuit
- Venkatesh Babu Radhakrishnan, IISc
- Amar Sapra, IIMB
- Rahul Ghosh, Walmart
- Satyendra Sahani, Xplorazzi
- Dr Iven Jose, Manipal Education
