When Industry, Academia and Innovation Ecosystems Share the Same Table

16 Jun 2026 Industry roundtable

How can we turn occasional encounters between academia and industry into long-term, meaningful partnerships? This question brought together 31 participants from nine European countries at the Industry–Academia Roundtables, hosted by CEITEC Masaryk University on 9 June 2026 within the Alliance4Life project A4L_BRIDGE.

Representatives of research institutions, hospitals, technology transfer offices, innovation organisations, investors, and life-science companies gathered in Brno to discuss a challenge familiar across Europe: despite many shared goals, academia and industry often struggle to find effective ways to collaborate.

The event intentionally moved away from the traditional conference format. Instead of long presentations, participants engaged in moderated discussions designed to encourage honest conversations and the exchange of practical experiences.

Exploring collaboration from both sides

The programme combined three distinct parts: a short pitch-like introduction, two rounds of moderated roundtable discussions, and a moderated panel discussion. Participants were distributed among five discussion tables, each anchored by an industry representative and intentionally balanced with researchers and innovation-support professionals.

The participating companies represented different parts of the life-science ecosystem, from biotechnology and diagnostics to pharmaceutical development, contract research and investment. They included BioVendor, GeneProof, Enantis, Labdeers, medac pharma production, EYEN, PsychoGenics and LIFE BioCEEd.

During two discussion rounds, participants explored collaboration from both perspectives: what industry expects from academia, and what academia expects from industry. Although the participants came from different countries and organisations, many of the same themes emerged repeatedly.

Different perspectives, similar challenges

One recurring topic was communication. Industry representatives acknowledged the enormous value of academic expertise and research infrastructure but also pointed out that identifying the right contact person within a university can be difficult. Researchers, on the other hand, highlighted the complexity of administrative procedures and the challenges of balancing scientific excellence with expectations for rapid application and commercialisation.

Participants also discussed differences in timelines, motivations, and measures of success. Yet rather than viewing these differences as obstacles, many saw them as opportunities to improve mutual understanding and develop more effective models of cooperation.

Perhaps the most encouraging finding was that both sides largely agreed on what needed improvement. Participants proposed several practical measures that could help strengthen academia–industry collaboration:

increasing the visibility of academic expertise and research infrastructures,

creating more opportunities for networking and informal interactions,

strengthening technology transfer support,

supporting industrial PhD programmes,

encouraging greater mobility between academia and industry.

While none of these ideas is entirely new, the discussions demonstrated a remarkable level of consensus across countries and sectors regarding the direction in which academia–industry collaboration should evolve.

The value of sitting at the same table

Beyond the specific recommendations, many participants highlighted the value of the format itself. The balanced composition of the discussion tables ensured that every topic could be viewed simultaneously through academic, industrial, and innovation-management lenses. The discussions were highly interactive, and participants often continued conversations beyond the allocated time.

Several attendees commented that one of the most valuable outcomes of the event was the opportunity to meet people they would not normally encounter in their day-to-day professional activities. One participant remarked afterwards: “The event was exceptionally well organised. I would be happy to replicate the same format at our institution.”

From discussion to collaboration

The Industry–Academia Roundtables were never intended to solve all challenges of academia–industry collaboration in a single day. Their purpose was to create an environment where people from different sectors could openly discuss their experiences, identify common challenges, and explore practical ways forward.

If even a fraction of the ideas generated in Brno lead to new collaborations, projects, visits, or partnerships, the event will have achieved its goal. And perhaps that is the most important lesson from the Roundtables: meaningful collaboration rarely starts with a contract. It starts with a conversation.