Universities at 2026 UIIN Conference

Why university leaders attend

Connect with global peers
Meet senior leaders in external engagement, innovation, entrepreneurship, knowledge transfer, and research strategy from universities across Europe and beyond.

Gain actionable insights for institutional transformation
Learn from global best practices in partnership governance, ecosystem strategies, entrepreneurial education, student innovation, research commercialisation, and impact-focused researcher development.

Shape the future of collaboration and innovation
Contribute to the international dialogue on the evolving role of universities in talent development, societal impact, and regional innovation leadership.

Boost visibility and strategic positioning
Showcase your initiatives, present your collaborations, and position your institution among global leaders driving change in university–industry engagement.

What our university attendees say

"This is the conference for anyone involved in external engagement. The connections you make and the talks are always highly relevant — from regional and ecosystem development to internal tools for engagement. It’s fantastic".

Finola Howe , Head of Enterprise and Engagement

"The connections you make at this conference are invaluable. A chance encounter here led to collaborations across continents, from research projects to university partnerships. Year after year, I see how these ‘serendipitous collisions’ turn into lasting professional relationships and meaningful opportunities".

Joe Steensma , Professor of Practice

"I come to UIIN to learn what others are doing—the learning never stops. I never leave a session without something I can take back and apply".

Marc Sedam , Vice President, Technology Opportunities and Ventures

"It was eye-opening to see people across the globe working toward the same goal of innovation. I realised the challenges we face, like breaking silos, are shared by other universities too. It was helpful to see how they’re bridging internal gaps to support industry partnerships".

Meghna Mathur , Business Partnership Associate

"This conference gives a truly global perspective on university-industry collaboration. In the U.S., we often see things from a national lens, but here, I’ve engaged with experts from Australia, Europe, and beyond—gaining insights I wouldn’t have found anywhere else".

Will Metcalf , Associate V.P. for Research Development & Strategic Partnerships

"Our top management recognises the invaluable resource that UIIN provides, offering access to best practices and innovative collaboration models. UIIN keeps us informed about the latest developments in the field."

Kaisa Still , Business Collaboration Manager

Who this is for

Vice-Chancellors, Rectors, Pro-Vice Chancellors
Directors of External Engagement, Partnerships, Entrepreneurship or Innovation
Heads of Tech Transfer, Knowledge Exchange, and Research Impact
Deans and faculty leads working on collaboration and innovation
Academic programme directors embedding external engagement and entrepreneurship into education
Professional staff supporting partnership development and institutional strategy
Researchers working on external engagement, entrepreneurship and impact at universities and innovation ecosystems