Designing University-SME Collaboration Pathways

University–SME collaboration often becomes difficult not because of a lack of interest, but because universities and SMEs operate with different needs, timelines and ways of working.

Drawing on UIIN research and insights on university–SME collaboration, this interactive masterclass will introduce UIIN’s Engagement Architecture Framework as a practical lens for understanding where collaboration can become slow, complex or difficult to navigate. Through group discussion and practical exercises, participants will identify key friction points and explore how engagement can be made clearer, faster and more effective.

This workshop is designed for:

• Professional staff working in business engagement, SME engagement, innovation, research partnerships or knowledge exchange.
• Business development, partnership and technology transfer professionals.
• University leaders and managers responsible for external engagement or collaboration strategy.
• SME leaders and representatives interested in improving how they engage and collaborate with universities.
• Innovation hubs, regional development organisations and intermediaries supporting university–SME collaboration.

By participating in this masterclass, you will:

1. Identify where SMEs and universities are most likely to lose momentum during the collaboration journey.
2. Examine collaboration through the lens of SME needs, constraints and expectations.
3. Explore practical ways to make collaboration easier to access, navigate, deliver and sustain.
4. Develop an improvement that can be adapted to your own organisational or partnership context.

Sarah Jaber, Director, UIIN

Sarah is a Director at UIIN and an experienced consultant. She advises universities globally about university – industry engagement, strategic partnerships and institutional strategy. At UIIN, Sarah leads the advisory and business development practice, designing and delivering innovative solutions to enhance universities’ external engagement.

A/Prof. Dr. Todd Davey, Associate Professor of Entrepreneurshipat the IMT-BS, Associate Partner at UIIN

Todd has consulted to the European, Australian, and Vietnamese Governments, and to multiple universities. Todd is an Associate Professor of Entrepreneurship at the IMT Business School in Paris and a visiting researcher at Imperial College (UK), Technical University of Vienna (AUT) and the University of Adelaide (AUST) in the topics of entrepreneurship and innovation.

UIIN Masterclasses are live, interactive workshops designed to provide in-depth learning on key topics related to university-industry collaboration. Led by experts, these sessions combine guided discussions, hands-on exercises, and peer learning to help participants develop practical strategies and skills.