RADIVOJ MALIC, International Projects at the UPC Innovation and Technology Centre (CIT UPC).

It has been a year since the presentation of the INDUSAC project in this very magazine, just as its innovative platform was about to launch, aimed at facilitating and enhancing collaboration between industry and academia through technological and business challenges. Teams formed by students and researchers will tackle these challenges proposed by companies, thus creating an effective bridge between the academic and business worlds.

INDUSAC therefore offers an innovative approach to university-industry collaboration at the European level and takes a pioneering step towards a paradigm shift and a more collaborative future, fostering innovation and sustainable growth.  

As part of the project, a cutting-edge methodology has been developed through a co-creation process between the university and industry, which is currently being tested under real conditions. This methodology ensures the participation of students from diverse cultural backgrounds, fields of study, and areas of expertise, guaranteeing diversity in all its dimensions while also aligning with the needs of industry to ensure the success of the entire process. On one side, innovative companies; on the other, students and researchers from across Europe work together to solve real challenges.

Since the launch of the platform, a large number of stakeholders—over a thousand, including companies, students, and researchers—have been involved. To date, more than 140 challenges have been published on the platform, most of which have already been resolved or are in the process of resolution.

The resolution period for the challenges will end on 30 January 2025, which is the deadline for students and researchers to form teams, submit their motivation letters, and begin collaborating with companies. The co-creation process is carried out entirely online via the INDUSAC platform, allowing for rapid, efficient collaboration without the costs associated with traditional innovation methods.

The challenges can originate from any business or technological sector. Some examples include: defining future customer needs, creating marketing campaigns, preparing business plans, market analysis, developing digital platforms, applying cutting-edge technologies, and addressing challenges in energy efficiency, among others.

INDUSAC provides a unique opportunity and multiple benefits for companies through the ‘Open Call for Companies’:

• Access to innovative solutions at no cost. The company has no financial obligations to the team.  
• Access to various solutions and the ability to select the most suitable ones.  
• Connection with the talent of international students and potential future employees (with no obligation).  
• Promotion of collaboration with leading European universities.  
• Increased international visibility.

The INDUSAC project is funded by the European Union through the Horizon Europe programme and has a duration of three years. The consortium comprises universities, research centres, clusters, chambers of commerce, innovation hubs, as well as the private sector, with nine partners from seven European countries. In addition to CIT UPC, partners include Bax & Company and Innoget (Spain), the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Pécs-Baranya (Hungary), the Jozef Stefan Institute (Slovenia), the Bydgoszcz Tool Valley Industrial Cluster (Poland), the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology – KIT (Germany), the Cyprus University of Technology, and EIT Manufacturing East (Austria).

INDUSAC is one of the projects that the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya – BarcelonaTech (UPC) will present at the Smart City Expo World Congress 2024, which will take place from 5 to 7 November at Fira de Barcelona (at the Gran Via exhibition centre).

For more information about the INDUSAC project, visit the official website.

See original publication: Smart Cities (Interempresas)