The National Centre for Quantum Integration (NiQi) was an infrastructure proposal led by the Glasgow University, to develop semiconductor scale-up fabrication techniques required for the emerging quantum technologies industry.
NiQi was based on a hub-and-spoke model with six university partners and the National Physical Laboratory. To align academic innovations with industry needs and ensure active company engagement, the university needed an effective industry engagement plan, positioning it as a critical enabler for industrial quantum technology advancements.
The university enlisted the expertise of Anchored In, known for its strong industry connections and proven track record in facilitating community connections and innovation advice.
Leveraging existing knowledge and finding common ground
To tackle the development of the industry engagement framework we focused on three core aspects: understanding existing successful practices; how the partner institutions operate within their frameworks, gauging potential conflict; and, importantly, the specific needs of the industry, both technically and administratively.
We started by interviewing representatives from institutions with strong industrial engagement, aiming to uncover effective strategies and lessons learned. Based on this information, together with our own insights into technology transfer within academic institutions, we produced initial recommendations that are suitable for NiQi. We then engaged with the university partners, gathering insights on the operation of such a centre within the existing frameworks of their respective universities.
The culmination of these efforts was a workshop that brought together all the partners, where we presented our initial findings. This forum served as a platform to address and reconcile any misaligned views, fostering open discussions aimed at finding common ground and solutions.
Igniting collaboration between universities and companies
For the industry engagement strategy of NiQi, we first identified key companies across the sectors and the supply chains, leveraging our sector expertise and extensive industry network. We engaged with selected companies to introduce NiQi, discussing potential benefits and barriers.
These points were further discussed in workshops with 45 companies from our network. The sessions, designed and moderated by our experienced facilitators, aimed to deepen the understanding of key findings and spark new ideas. Following on, we compiled a list of recommendations to guide NiQi's industry engagement approach. Those were presented to Glasgow University.
Although the NiQi proposal did not succeed in its initial concept, it catalysed a series of smaller collaborative projects between universities and companies. Furthermore, it underscored the industry's appreciation for a unified point of contact that simplifies navigation through the academic landscape and assists in project management of multi-university and industry collaborations, marking it as a valuable asset.