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Probable Elements of Networking
The current ascendancy of technology-driven entrepreneurship as a key business model is bound to force the Indian industry to intensify its R&D orientation. Against this backdrop, there is perhaps a need to transcend mere networking and move to strategic alliance between the academia and the industry.

• Creation of consolidated on-line databases of research expertise, facilities and programs of the premier academic, research and industrial organizations

• Establishment of broad-based formal forums of interaction that may help promote a growth in the awareness of available expertise as well as R&D programs

• Provision of incentives to greater personnel mobility, exchange of skills and utilization of facilities between the various R&D systems/organizations

• Creation of suitable, decentralized decision-making and administrative structures (especially in the academia and government research laboratories) for rapid and efficient execution of joint R&D programs

• Establishment of research consortia by the industry with a view to encouraging research driven technology development

• Mechanisms to allow technology-based enterprises by academic faculty

Industry-academia partnership can no doubt be a powerful tool that provides more efficient, less costly, and better results than can be achieved alone. However, its establishment and management is necessarily a complex process and needs careful consideration of the issues that are critical to its success. Some pertinent observations are as follows:

• Alliances work best when a strong, shared purpose is perceived as valuable to all participants

• Relationships need to be built at all levels of interaction

• Critical evaluation of the skills and role of each partner is necessary

• All such collaborations must commit to continuity
  
  (Email: sr[at]che.iitb.ac.in)

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