Partnerships with startups enable science and educational institutions to access commercialisation opportunities and agile methodologies, while startups gain critical resources and industry expertise to scale their solutions. However, challenges persist—a survey by Boston Consulting Group revealed that 45% of corporations and 55% of startups report dissatisfaction with their partnerships.
Despite these hurdles, the impact of research and educational institutions in entrepreneurship has grown significantly. For example, according to the analysis by Universities UK (UUK), there was a 70% increase in the number of startups founded at UK universities between 2014/15 to 2022/23. The same analysis reveals that by 2028, around 27,000 new startups – with a predicted turnover of around £10.8B – could be established at institutions in the UK, showcasing the potential for transformative collaboration.
Despite growing interest, the gaps between startups and science institutions are not closing, and the reported benefits to businesses are moderate. All representatives of the innovation ecosystem can benefit from deepening these partnerships to better deliver on promise for the societies and economies. Here are a few opportunities.
Research & Development (R&D) improvements
Startups seeking to enhance their R&D capabilities through collaborations with science institutions can focus on three critical strategic improvements: aligning innovation goals at the project level, establishing transparent communication channels across partners, and specifying collaborative requirements in agreements with participating entities.
Aligning innovation goals at the project level is crucial for successful collaboration. In my observation as a startup mentor, many partnerships focus on broad objectives without clearly defining project-specific outcomes. However, leading collaborations have developed the capability to align goals at both the strategic and project levels. The integration of digital tools and collaborative platforms can facilitate these capabilities.
When it comes to collaboration—as with any other aspect of innovation—you can’t succeed without clear communication. Many partnerships, somewhat surprisingly, lack transparent communication channels across all stakeholders. Issues such as siloed information systems and differing priorities can lead to compounding problems of misaligned expectations and resource inefficiencies. When developing collaborative plans, partners should prioritise comprehensive visibility of project progress across all involved parties, ensuring they can access accurate, detailed updates on demand (by project phase, team, and so on). Any strategic collaborative buffers should be consolidated and held in one central location, and associated costs should be clearly understood.
Finally, partners should make incentives for collaborative efforts much more specific. Frequently, research institutions and startups are primarily incentivised to achieve broad research milestones rather than specific collaborative outcomes. This can result in partners focusing on their individual goals rather than a shared project mix, which can lead to a shortage of some resources and a surplus of others.
Accelerated commercialisation
Streamlining market entry and monetisation processes in the partnership between startups and research institutions are sometimes overlooked in innovation development. Closer integration could have a significant impact on the speed and success of bringing innovations to market. In innovation development, a forward-looking approach can help avoid challenges such as misaligned objectives, resource inefficiencies, and delays in commercialisation.
For example, the research labs at the University of Eastern Finland have collaborated with startups to develop novel applications in virtual reality (VR). This partnership has enabled the creation of immersive forest management simulations, which have opened up new markets for both academic and commercial stakeholders.
Startups and research institutions should also aim to create flexible collaboration models tailored to specific project needs. There are proven cases of partnerships between startups and research institutions in prioritising innovation and business efficiency simultaneously.
A report by London Economics found that the 24 Russell Group universities generated over £37.6B for the UK economy in 2021/22. For every £1 of public funding invested in their research, more than £8.50 was returned, highlighting the significant impact of their research and commercialisation activities.
Harnessing collective talent
Navigating partnerships between science organisations and startups requires more than just advanced tools—it demands leveraging human expertise and entrepreneurial vision. While technology can streamline collaboration, it is not a standalone solution. The true value lies in aligning the deep technical knowledge of researchers with the business acumen of startup founders to drive impactful innovation.
Despite the availability of advanced collaboration tools, many partnerships fail to achieve their full potential. This is often due to two key challenges. First, organisations frequently adopt new systems without transforming their operational processes, akin to using cutting-edge technology without changing outdated workflows. Second, poor data alignment and unclear project goals can lead to inefficiencies, delaying commercialisation efforts.
Better management can bridge these gaps. Successful collaborations require cross-functional teams that include researchers, entrepreneurs, and other stakeholders. These teams should regularly review project milestones and objectives, setting measurable targets to track progress. For example, the University of Eastern Finland’s research labs have partnered with startups to develop photonics applications for consumer electronic products. By combining academic expertise with startup agility, these collaborations have accelerated the journey from lab prototypes to market-ready solutions.
How to get started
One of the approaches indicates that any collaboration between startups and research institutions should start with a detailed, project-level understanding of the partnership landscape. Once this is established, partners can use a collaboration health map to identify areas of inefficiency and opportunity across different stages of the partnership—for instance, prototype testing and market readiness.
With this tool, leaders can pinpoint the root causes of challenges such as misaligned goals or resource inefficiencies. Then, a set of targeted interventions can be systematically implemented. This approach avoids the piecemeal strategy that addresses symptoms but not underlying issues. It also ensures that any improvements achieved can be sustained over time.
By implementing these strategies, startups and science organisations can enhance collaboration efficiency and unlock mutual benefits. Of course, how these plans are applied will depend on the specific goals and models of each partnership. But regardless of the specifics, a more proactive approach to collaboration management will inform decision-making and can increase the value of these partnerships for all stakeholders.
Svetlana Stotskaya is a global marketing consultant and business mentor with a passion for technology.
