Overview
This Strategic Leadership Focus Group explores how industry–academia partnerships can be reimagined as platforms for co-creation, rather than transactional engagement. In the context of global economic shifts, skills transformation, and local development imperatives, universities are increasingly expected to act as active partners in innovation, workforce development, and regional resilience.

The dialogue will examine how leadership can enable deeper, trust-based collaboration with industry that integrates education, research, and innovation. Participants will discuss models that move beyond internships and sponsorships toward joint problem-solving, applied research, co-designed curricula, and shared innovation infrastructure. The session will focus on redefining the university’s role in local development ecosystems and producing actionable pathways for stronger, impact-driven partnerships.

Aims

• Reframe industry–academia engagement from transactional relationships to strategic co-creation partnerships.
• Identify leadership and governance models that support sustained, mutually beneficial collaboration.
• Explore approaches for integrating industry partnerships into teaching, research, and innovation agendas.
• Examine how universities can more effectively contribute to local and regional economic development.
• Co-create recommendations and roadmap actions for building robust, impact-oriented industry–academia ecosystems.