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Collaboration between academia and industry increasingly important in a time of rapid transformation
As technology advances and industries evolve, collaboration between academia and industry is becoming increasingly important. This was a central message at Wärtsilä Corporate Corner in Turku on 12 November.
Corporate Corner is a concept developed by Åbo Akademi University and the University of Turku to connect researchers and industry representatives and identify new opportunities for collaboration in research, development and innovation.
This year’s event brought together researchers from Åbo Akademi University, the University of Turku, Novia University of Applied Sciences and Turku University of Applied Sciences, as well as representatives from Wärtsilä and Business Turku.
In her opening remarks, Åbo Akademi University Rector Gunilla Widén highlighted the strength of the collaboration between the higher education institutions in the region.
“I’m really proud of the truly genuine collaboration that we have between all the universities here in Turku, including Business Turku. We have realized how much more we can accomplish together. We share a campus, we share goals and ambitions, and we even work side by side in some of the buildings, like here in Aurum,” Widén said.
An industry undergoing rapid change
During the morning session, Håkan Agnevall, President and CEO of Wärtsilä, presented the company’s strategic priorities and discussed the major changes facing the energy and marine sectors in the decades ahead. He emphasised the importance of research, innovation and collaboration in accelerating the green transition.
According to Agnevall, both sectors are undergoing a far-reaching transformation in which new fuels, digitalisation, artificial intelligence and energy efficiency will play an increasingly important role.
“There will be more happening in our industries during the next ten years than during the previous three or four decades,” Agnevall said.
He also highlighted the close cooperation between the higher education institutions in Turku as a strength for the region and an asset for industry.
“What stands out for me is the cooperation between the four universities in Turku. That’s something fairly unique in Finland, and I think it makes you stronger and certainly makes our relationship stronger. It’s something to be really proud about.”
Trust is built over time
During the morning session, the participating universities presented their research strengths and discussed how collaboration between academia and industry can contribute to a sustainable future and a competitive business environment.
Jerker Björkqvist, Head of IT, highlighted the university’s long-standing collaboration with Wärtsilä. He pointed to several areas where Åbo Akademi University sees strong potential for continued cooperation, including artificial intelligence, data-driven diagnostics, electrification, hybrid solutions, and the development of new business models and industrial ecosystems.
Björkqvist emphasised that successful research and innovation collaborations are built on long-term relationships.
“One of the most important prerequisites for collaboration is building trust. It takes time to get to know each other and understand how the other party works. First you build trust, then you can build projects,” he said.
A central element of Corporate Corner is also the small-group discussions between researchers and industry representatives. During the afternoon, a series of targeted meetings brought researchers and Wärtsilä representatives together to discuss specific topics, pitch ideas and explore possibilities for future collaboration.
