On Tuesday, March 10, the UW–Madison Office of Business Engagement (OBE) held its first ever “Introduction to Industry Collaborations” workshop for members of the campus community. Attended by more than 60 members of staff and faculty (and one student), the training session introduced key concepts and best practices for attracting and building industry partnerships, an increasingly relevant source of benefits for companies and UW–Madison alike.
Ultimately, OBE’s goal is to make working with industry partners easier and more strategic for faculty and staff across campus. “I liken OBE’s role to either matchmakers or translators” between companies and the university, said Sara Braas, OBE Associate Director.
Braas and OBE Managing Director John Garnetti discussed different types of university-industry engagement and how to identify the right people and companies to partner with. In post-event feedback, attendees found the advice to reflect on their specific reasons to connect with potential partners, as well as the most effective approaches to doing so, particularly helpful. They were also glad to hear about “nuts and bolts guidance in working with industry,” lessons from specific case studies, and the breadth of resources available on campus.
One such resource is the Industry Engagement Collective (IEC), a community of practice that convenes monthly for discussion and presentations. All UW–Madison faculty, staff, and affiliates who pursue and/or support university-industry partnerships are welcome to participate and can join by emailing inquiries@obe.wisc.edu.
At the workshop, a panel of campus experts—Alyson Fleming, Director of Public-Private Partnerships at the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies, Justin Sydnor, Chair and Professor of the Department of Risk & Insurance at the Wisconsin School of Business, and Bu Wang, Associate Professor of Civil & Environmental Engineering at the College of Engineering—shared insights gained from their industry collaboration experiences. Afterwards, attendees called the panel “immensely helpful” and said it was “a great way to hear concrete advice and examples.”
Keep an eye out for additional trainings from the OBE team on the office’s events page. In the meantime, visit OBE’s resources page for helpful information. If you would like to explore a potential partnership, discuss an idea, or receive individualized support, visit the OBE website or email inquiries@obe.wisc.edu.
