university–enterprise cooperation

In general terms it can be said that the majority of business
partners of TU Graz are SMEs. Many of them start collaboration
with joint master theses and other small scale projects, but many
high-tech SMEs have been involved in large R&D projects with TU
Graz including joint Competence Centers.
A specific initiative has been set to target regional SMEs: In
2002 Technology Transfer Office of Graz University of Technology
established the so-called ARGE (Arbeitsgemeinschaft) TECHNOFIT.
In this initiative the transfer offices of all main technological/
engineering institutes of Styria (3 Universities and the largest R&D
institution) agreed upon a coordinated, standardised approach for
the support of SMEs in Styria with no or little experience in the
field of R&D.
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A) University of Brighton - www.brighton.ac.uk
5.2
B) The University of Brighton is a community of 21000 students
and 2600 staff, within five campuses in Brighton, Eastbourne and
Hastings. It makes major contributions both to the national system
of university education and to its local and regional communities.
The corporate plan for the next five years links with a number
of detailed strategies, policies and plans. It reflects balance of
continuity and change, seeking to meet new challenges, especially
of Life-long learning, of social inclusion, and of knowledge
exchange. At the heart of the University of Brighton’s mission
is partnership with the professions and business. They have a
significant economic and social engagement agenda and also strive
for progression routes for all.
Representatives of enterprises are involved with university
governance and with local management but they are not typically
those with whom University of Brighton engages on a commercial
basis. Corporate plan includes targets for growth. This is then
supported by Faculty and School plans which also focus on targets.
There is limited implementation detail but they do have a number
of processes and structures in place to support the implementation
of these including a Business Services Office (now known as Economic
and Social Engagement Department) and the Collaborative Training
Centre.
C) Business Services Office is responsible for promoting the
university and developing partnerships with business and public
service organizations, and provides access to the knowledge and
expertise of the university to solve real business problems. They
deal with connection of all kind organizations (business, government,
public) with university services and facilities, including specialised
www.brighton.ac.uk/business/
index.php?PageId=1
Good practices in the area of university-enterprise cooperation 5