The symposium is intended to:
- Inform academic participants of the unsolved problems and unmet research needs in one or more industry sectors;
- Inform industry participants of the area(s) of expertise and research interests of faculty members; and
- Promote the discussion and development of collaborative relationships between industry and academic participants.
Welcome and Overview of Symposium (8:30 – 9:00)
A presentation of the symposium objectives, review of agenda and how a meaningful collaboration can advance the field of engineering as well as SWE’s mission.
Identify Benefits from Industry and Academia Collaborations & Partnerships (9:00-10:00)
Collaboration between industry and academia has always been important, but at times a very complex topic. Due to the rapid evolution of the business environment and the vast transformations throughout academia especially within the engineering discipline, the subject has drawn even more interest and attention. This panel, comprised of academics and business leaders, will look at the intricacies of substantive and productive partnerships as well as provide some guidance for those considering future partnerships.
Networking break (10:00-10:15)
IP or Not to IP: Best Practices for Handling Intellectual Property Issues (10:15-11:15)
There is clear value in industry working with universities and colleges. This however can be potentially complicated as the interest of educational institutions and corporate entities frequently diverge. One organization is committed to making good technology and business decisions that may limit the dissemination of information to remain competitive and protect their intellectual property while the other organization is committed to publically disseminating results of their research. Conflicts can occur between universities and corporations over whether and when to publish and disseminate research and gives rise to proprietary questions on the ownership and protection of intellectual property. This panel discussion will examine the thorny intellectual property issues related to the collaboration and how to forge a path where both organizations can be successful.
Lunch and networking (11:15 – 12:15)
Areas for Collaboration - Research Challenges in Industry (12:15 – 1:45)
Industry professionals will give presentations that outline an area of focus and within that context specific technical challenges and research questions they face and highlight the corresponding research needs and opportunities for collaboration with academia.
Networking break (1:45 – 2:00)
Areas for Collaboration - Faculty Presentations on Current & Future Research (2:00 – 4:00)
Faculty will provide background on their particular area of expertise, experience with various research questions/problems and current research focus. Presenters will not be asked to provide the contents of a specific paper or project, but a general overview of their research program and its long-term trajectory.
Closing Remarks and Wrap-Up (4:00 – 4:10)
Reception and refreshments (4:10 – 5:00)
Participants will have the opportunity to further discuss topics of the day and exchange contact information.