University industrial liaison service in Europe

An empirical study covering all Member States of the European Comunities showed that most of the industry liaison 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.