The University-Industry and Research-Industry Interfaces in Europe

Bodies which act as interfaces between universities or publicly funded research centres and industries, the "industry liason offices" (ILOs) have sprung up over the last few years throughout the Community, but in different ways in the various Member States. A better knowledge of these bodies: who they are and how they work in the different Member States, and what are their needs, would help defining and carrying out suitable policies in these areas. A survey was therefore conducted within the framwork of the SPRINT and COMETT programmes. The most important result was that most of the industry liason offices at higher education institutions mainly provide marketing services for their parent organization: They act as a "shop-window" of the university or college, most times with regional and only seldom with a national or European orientation. Supporting contractual negotiations between researchers and industry or the management of research and development are less important activities. R and D cooperations with industry are still based on direct contacts of researchers and their industrial counterparts.