There is a generally acknowledged need for university researchers in disciplines represented by the ICICS membership to make their collaborations with industry more meaningful. The funding agencies want to see more return on their investment: funded projects that produce results translated to society through industry.
To this end, ICICS hosted a reception and dinner at Cecil Green Park House on October 27, 2009 for ICICS members and senior industrial executives. Rabab Ward, ICICS Director from 1996–2006 and currently Director Pro Tem, worked closely with ICICS members and NSERC-Pacific to match researchers with 37 guests from 34 local companies.
Rick Warner, NSERC-Pacific Manager, is often involved in functions aimed at bringing academia and industry together. What made this dinner a uniquely “terrific event,” he said afterwards, was this strategic matching. Several guests from industry had already contacted his office the following day to follow up on potential collaborations, as well as programs he outlined in his talk after the dinner. In her talk, Applied Science Dean Tyseer Aboulnasr stressed the importance of industry as a means of translating researchers’ advances to society. Mario Kasapi of the University Industry Liaison Office (UILO) spoke about steps his office has taken to streamline commercialization of research at UBC. Duncan Phillips of MITACS and Ross Waddell of the BC Innovation Council (see presentation🙂 summarized programs offered by their organizations that mutually benefit UBC researchers and industry.
The quality of the food and the complimentary drinks might have had something to do with it, but the evening’s overall “buzz” was mostly generated by the enthusiasm on both sides about bridging the gap between academia and industry. There is a clear desire among ICICS members and their industry guests to deepen existing collaborations and explore new ones. Events such as the ICICS/NSERC Industry Dinner can help make this happen.