In Canada, more than in other G7 nations, businesses turn to universities for research support, and there are many government programs – both federal and provincial – that provide leverage to these projects. This leveraged funding constitutes a significant portion of McGill’s annual research budget.
Multinationals and start-ups alike are seeking new sources of innovation and partnering with them can be rewarding for both parties. For university researchers, industry partnerships can provide resources and insight into ongoing research and potential areas for growth in research.
The Industry Partnerships team has years of experience working with businesses. Collaborations can range from indirect support of ongoing research activities to contracting very specific research projects and specialized services. The team can also facilitate access to expertise from highly qualified personnel, and to student interns as well. Other benefits of sponsoring research at McGill University include:
When working with industry, it is important to keep in mind the contrast between its needs and priorities and those of an academic setting. The table below illustrates some of these critical differences.
| - | INDUSTRY | UNIVERSITY |
|---|---|---|
| Objective | Solving an operational problem, reducing costs, competition, return on investment | New research program, real-world problems, student theses, publications, funding |
|
Timeline |
Months or weeks |
Years |
|
Deliverables |
Products (software, data, designs, etc.), quarterly reports, progress meetings |
Peer-review publications, theses, conference papers |
|
Funding |
Price, return on investment, R&D tax credits |
Student salaries, miscellaneous costs, indirects |
|
Payments |
Upon receipt of deliverables |
Up front and annual |
|
Publications |
None or subject to review and approval |
As soon as possible |
|
Confidentiality Period |
Perpetual or more typically 3-5 years or more |
None or more typically 2-3 years maximum |
|
Intellectual Property |
Belongs to the industry |
Belongs to the university |
Want to know when industry-related funding opportunities arise? Want to be the first to know when new programs on collaborating with companies are launched?
Get the latest news delivered to your inbox. Sign up fo the I+P newsletter today.