Innovation with Industry
Let's seize the opportunity!
Reykjavik University places great emphasis on strong collaboration with the industry. The goal is to connect university knowledge with practical industry experience, thereby creating opportunities for innovation, development, and value creation in Icelandic society. In collaboration with employees, students and research teams, prototypes and applied results are created that promote innovation in the industry. RU wants to collaborate with companies and institutions on research that has a meaningful impact.
At RU, diverse research is conducted in departments and at the research centres. There are many examples of the application of technology and knowledge from RU research, including through start-up companies.
Common types of collaboration with the industry include:
- Co-funded research
- Sponsorship of student projects at undergraduate, master's, and doctoral levels
- Innovation accelerators
- Internships
Utilisation of research
RU places great emphasis on the utilisation of research and knowledge, e.g. through licensing agreements with companies, as well as the establishment of start-up companies.
RU is one of the founders of Auðna TTO, which works closely with the University to connect inventions and innovative projects with industry and investors. Companies and institutions can thus obtain new and valuable technology and knowledge, e.g. through licenses of patents owned by the University.
There are several factors to consider when drafting cooperation agreements, including ownership, intellectual property rights, and ensuring that the use of the collaboration's results is transparent and comprehensible. RU has expertise in intellectual property and cooperation agreements. Auðna TTO also assists with negotiating cooperation agreements and advises on intellectual property rights.
Open innovation
Open innovation refers to the practice of companies and institutions utilising external knowledge and intellectual property to accelerate development, address challenges, and generate new value. Collaboration with universities is at the heart of such open innovation, where academic knowledge, research and creative thinking are utilised for the benefit of the industry.
Benefits of collaboration with RU:
- Access to expertise and cutting-edge research
- Collaboration with students and departments on practical solutions
- New ideas and fresh perspectives outside the workplace
- Support for innovation processes, e.g. through the involvement of grants and intellectual property
Reykjavik University offers the industry various ways to collaborate, from one-off projects and research to extensive collaboration.
Contact us!
The collaboration between RU and the industry is based on a common goal: to strengthen Icelandic society through education, research and innovation. Strong links between universities and industry create a stronger future – for students, companies and society as a whole.
Contact us at atvinnulif@ru.is if your company or institution is interested in learning more about collaboration opportunities at RU.