How SMEs want to collaborate with universities

The current trend is for more universities to find opportunities for knowledge exchange and collaboration with industry. For the university, the purpose is clear - they become relevant to the business community and the research has a clear grounding in reality. An important question then becomes: why should small businesses invest time and resources in initiating collaborations with universities? To answer this question, more in-depth insights into the drivers and needs that push these collaborations forward are needed.

Previous research has shown that smaller businesses can sometimes be restrictive in initiating collaborations, as they are hands-on with their business most of the day and therefore may not see the opportunities or have the resources to collaborate with a university.

This project investigated the factors that might make SMEs interested in engaging with a university. The results revealed valuable insights on how universities can communicate the value of collaboration in a way that businesses understand and are interested in participating. This knowledge can be useful for both universities and small businesses considering collaboration.

– Universities have a lot to gain from collaborating with businesses. It allows us to put our research into practice and see how it can make a real difference in business. It also gives our students the opportunity to work on real problems and develop practical skills that are in high demand in the job market," says Alina Veksler, who was a PhD student in the project.

The results of this project, based on interviews with 30 SMEs, clearly highlight some critical factors affecting the success of business-university collaborations. Here are some concrete lessons learned:

• Information through established channels: Entrepreneurs tend to respond better to information that reaches them through channels they already use in their daily work. By communicating through such familiar channels, the university can raise awareness of possible collaborations.
• Clarifying value: A key element in attracting small businesses is to clearly communicate the value of the collaboration. This value can be knowledge, technology testing or other non-financial benefits that help businesses develop.
  
• Access to skills: Companies are generally interested in collaborating with universities that give them access to highly qualified skills, which can help them solve specific problems or develop innovative solutions.
  
• Larger goals and sustainability: Partnerships that pursue larger goals, such as promoting sustainability or long-term regional growth, can attract extra interest from small businesses, which are often committed to their communities and the environment.
  
• Personal contact: Personal involvement and a personal contact person from the university can be crucial to building trust and effective collaborations.
  
• Trust and confidentiality: Finally, trust and confidentiality are crucial. Small businesses need to be sure that their trade secrets are carefully protected during the collaboration.