In February, the Food & Beverage Innovation Centre (FBIC) team participated in the Conference Board of Canada’s Council for Innovation and Commercialization virtual meeting focused on collaboration. Industry collaboration for R&D and innovation takes various forms depending on the type of organization you work within; FBIC works in Academic-Industry Collaboration, which focuses on applied research and supporting industry growth through practical applications to assist companies with commercialization and innovation.
The meeting objectives included:
- • Understanding what collaboration in an R&D and innovation ecosystem means, and how the very definition of these concepts means different things to leaders from a variety of organizations.
- Gain insights into the emerging types of collaboration and recognize where collaboration is falling short.
- • Explore examples that are bringing value to all stakeholders in the collaboration.
- • Discover new areas of value-overlap where innovation leaders can work together.
Staff and faculty from FBIC and its project partners, including three other colleges, industry associations, and independent businesses, participated in a case study that looked at the collaboration among TACs (Technology Access Centres), college applied research centres, academia, industry associations, and craft breweries, using NC-led Canadian Craft Brewery Quality Project, as the prime example.
During the session, the group explored the successful multi-stakeholder collaboration that has provided value from the perspective of all parties, including government, academia, and small business. Important lessons emerged from governance, value definition, operational planning and execution, and shared trust – lessons that can be applied by members.
FBIC was pleased to have been invited to this important discussion.
