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Business-University Collaboration: the current Greek potential

British Graduates discuss business-university collaboration and its benefits for students, graduates, universities, businesses & economy

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

On Thursday 27 March 2014 the British Graduates Society in cooperation with the British Council held an open discussion on the issue of business-university collaboration. Speakers and guests had the opportunity to discuss the main points of the Review of Business-University Collaboration by Professor Sir Tim Wilson and the successful British model while academics and businessmen offered their views on the framework and the current dynamic of collaboration between universities and businesses in Greece.

International best practice shows that there is common ground which links university activity with entrepreneurship that can offer benefits to all parties as well as contribute to economic growth and prosperity.

In his address the British Ambassador John Kittmer stressed:

Universities that collaborate with businesses, gain access to private funding for their research and other academic activities. They gain partners who understand the potential commercial value of academic research. They find sponsors who can support their students’ start-ups and offer their graduates jobs later on.

Large companies and SMEs alike can gain from their access to universities; a very important point for an economy such as the Greek one with a large number of SMEs.

As the Wilson Review clearly demonstrates, improved collaboration between universities and businesses has clear benefits for students, graduates, universities and businesses. In addition there is more to gain from the development of entrepreneurship culture, networking, business zones and technology clusters that invigorate cities and entire regions, promote international strategic partnerships, build interpersonal relations, formal and informal networks for the exchange of knowledge and experience.

Published 28 March 2014