From Expertise to Income: Advisory & Consulting as a Pathway to Impact

Academic expertise has significant value beyond publications, grants, and teaching. Increasingly, universities are seeking ways to support researchers in translating their knowledge into real-world impact through advisory and consulting activities. Yet many institutions lack clear pathways, incentives, and support mechanisms to enable academics to engage confidently and effectively with external organisations.

This masterclass explores advisory and consulting as a structured pathway for research valorisation, knowledge exchange, and societal impact. Participants will examine why consulting matters for both academics and universities, including its potential to strengthen external relationships, generate new research opportunities, enhance institutional visibility, and create additional revenue streams.

Through practical examples and institutional perspectives, the session will explore different forms of advisory engagement, consulting models, and communication approaches that help academics translate expertise into value for industry, government, and society. Participants will also identify strategies for developing institutional frameworks, capabilities, and support structures that encourage and enable academic consulting while aligning with university missions and impact goals.

This masterclass is designed for:

• Professional staff working in innovation, research partnerships, regional engagement, entrepreneurship, economic development, or knowledge exchange.
• University leaders and managers responsible for external engagement strategy and ecosystem development.
• Academic staff involved in collaborative research, entrepreneurship, living labs, or regional initiatives.
• Policymakers, innovation agencies, and regional development organisations working with universities.
• Ecosystem intermediaries, incubators, clusters, and industry associations seeking stronger university collaboration.

After the session, participants will be able to:

1. Understand advisory and consulting as a strategic pathway for research valorisation and societal impact.
2. Explore different models of academic consulting, advisory work, and communication.
3. Identify the benefits and opportunities for academics, universities, and external partners.
4. Learn how universities can create effective support structures, incentives, and governance frameworks for consulting activities.
5. Examine practical approaches for helping academics communicate expertise and build trusted external relationships.

Dr. Balzhan Orazbayeva, Director of Research and Training at UIIN

Balzhan works to unlock the impact of universities in society and to strengthen how universities and companies collaborate to drive that impact. As Director of Research & Training at UIIN, she leads the strategic direction of the organisation’s research and training portfolio, using it as a foundation for broader services and engagement with both higher education institutions and industry partners. She also leads key initiatives, including UIIN’s Pathway to Impact Institutional Programme and the UIIN Business Group, bringing universities and companies together to co-create solutions for meaningful impact.

A/Prof. Dr. Todd Davey, Associate Professor of Entrepreneurship at 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.