How can you compare R&D roles in academia and industry?

Frequently, industry decisions are driven by financial considerations, shaped by the responsibility towards shareholders. Deadlines are rigid and unforgiving, necessitating strong time management in industrial research. On the other hand, academia often involves ongoing research, where the journey lacks a definitive conclusion, akin to a perpetual narrative.

I agree, but the choice between academia and industry in R&D depends on one's preferences and career goals. Some may thrive in the academic environment, relishing the freedom to explore and create knowledge, while others may find fulfillment in industry by addressing tangible challenges and seeing their work translate into practical solutions. Both paths have their merits and contribute to the advancement of knowledge and technology in their own unique ways.

The industry is quite fast and result-oriented. The timelines, deliverables & and quality standards are stringent as compared to academia. Although academia is also driven by funds, industry is more demanding as stakes are not only financial but customer-driven as well. Furthermore, innovation is almost at par in academia, but still, the exposure to the latest technology & and infrastructure is much advanced in industry.

In my experience, R&D within academia offer expansive navigational avenues. Publication is generally the currency used to evaluate the research output. The more you publish, the greater your perceived value. Furthermore, collaborative efforts and the exchange of information are prevalent. In contrast to academia, R&D in industry is intensely competitive. The focus often centers on developing pragmatic solutions, or creating products, with real-world applicability. Publications here don’t count for much. Employers expect researchers to produce results that directly contribute to the fulfillment of business objectives. Consequently, the emphasis shifts from the generation of publishable content to the practical application of knowledge

Academic research is akin to painting on a white canvas wherein the possibilities are endless and even if the results are not exactly as per expectations, the learnings are enormous. Industrial research is similar to art school-trained artists working in tandem to achieve the desired objectives !

One persons Research is another person Development. The question, however, is very flat. More to the point is to reference the TRL (Technology Readiness Level), MRL (Manufacturing Readiness Level), or the R1 - R... research levels defined by the US military and government. Specific to each one is the expectation of where the "R,D&D" should start and end. Some universities are very engineering oriented, such as the Land Grants, while others foster deeper science exploration (in general). Also, some industries, particularly of the past, had strong "research" centers [the transistor at Bell Labs]. Regardless, in the capitalistic democracy of the US, the bottom line is that someone needs a pathway to make a profit for the system to work.

Yes, you have more freedom to conduct research in academia, but the problem is to secure the funding. While in industry, you might not get to work on your ideas as the priority will be working on the company's goal. And without the chance of working on your ideas/research, there can be difficulty in publishing.

R&D is the backbone of Industry. The growth of industry is fully dependent on R&D activities. Hence for production of high standard products which will be appreciated by the customers the industry should have either its own R&D cell or it should possess innovative approach to produce high standard products through other R&D establishments.

I can only agree from my professional experience. I worked for years in R&D in the academic field and now for a decade in the industry. Almost everything is different here, not only limited freedom and flexibility. If at the end customer pays the development costs then not only clear specifications, deadlines and deliverables but also budget plays an important, very often overriding role.

Cross-functional communication is essential. Unlike academia, where people are experts in their research, industrial communication requires research to be accessible and functional for all stakeholders. Different roles carry different focuses meaning R&D requires a holistic perspective of project timeline and constraints.

Industrial research is surprisingly collaborative because the most fertile ground for breakthroughs is translational knowledge between discrete sub-disciplines. In industry there is a defined, tangible target for these collaborations and the correct tools to ascertain the difference between 'promising' and 'real' results. My personal wish would be that 'green' and 'scalable' be categories for high-impact academic research because many top-tier journals don't have proper filters for this and allow hyperbole, which has the real-world result of born-to-fail startups that muddy the waters for entities legitimately tackling the same issues.

Industry has a much more vested interest in developing staff. Training in management, presentation skills and leadership are common and many companies offer opportunities for individuals to find and follow many different paths such as pure science, people / project management, IP or lab/relationship mangement.

One thing I have found helpful is having functional institutional frameworks or policies that instill a culture of research. Academia demands peer reviewed publications and in some cases Intellectual Property. It is incumbent upon institutions to develop a culture of research with appropriate structures (eg Research Board or Post Graduate research unit etc) , guiding policies or guidelines (eg Research Policy, Consultancy Policy, Research Ethics Policy etc) and incentivizing guidelines(eg IP Policy, Consultancy Policy etc)

When speaking of culture, it is probably worth mentioning that academic workplaces are among the most toxic, at least here in the UK. There is more collegiality in industry, in my experience.

Industry research is made for results, not for the sake of science. Most companies won't share their findings if it will affect their profit. The principal goal in industries is how the research conducted will increase our performance, productivity, sales, etc. Even though they are fundamentally different, we must note that many R&D innovations in industry are inspired by academic research.

The line between Corporate and Academia thinned as research became increasingly product-driven. In my time doing research, I observed four axes have significantly impacted the growth and sustainability of research. The free flow of information permits a broader spectrum of innovative R&D. Lateral mobility within the establishment enables long-term research. Well-crafted IP clauses in contracts empower innovative thinking. A transparent corporate culture fosters collaborations that lead to productive R&D.

There are few roles in academia for folks with less than a PhD, other than lab manager. I enjoy the range of opportunities and backgrounds of my co-workers in industry.

After a PhD, I have worked only in Industry - first in R&D and later in management. The diversity of roles exists but your knowledge and your experience dictate your career prospects.

Learning and continuous adaptation are the key to career prospect in both places. Often, academia folks are too narrowed towards their research, end up in the vicious cycle of grant & publications. And by the time they realise this, it’s too late for a change. Meanwhile, the Industry offers you diversity and flexibility in your projects, but the caveat is people often become resistant towards taking new responsibilities and rarely they go out of their job roles. The one who senses that adapts faster, takes new responsibilities goes high up in the career ladder.

In the industry, one can forge a fulfilling career path with an undergraduate degree, supplemented by a few additional courses and diligent effort. Conversely, in academia, the journey typically necessitates obtaining a master's and Ph.D. degree, often followed by several years of postdoctoral fellowship before embarking on a career in earnest. I believe it ultimately hinges on individual career aspirations, dreams, and, significantly, the availability of opportunities.

There is an enormous opportunity at the interface between academic research, industrial R&D and business development. A lot of applied academic research would benefit from being better focused on real problems and a lot of industrial R&D would benefit from a less empirical approach.

Looking back, I think a PhD can be done in a fraction of the time many take to achieve this goal. But is this the purpose? I believe that the time spend to obtain a PhD is and should be a time of exploration, stretching the scientific boundaries. The huge benefit I see is in the collaboration and sharing of data, which requires digital solutions not implemented today. We need to develop the intelligence to leverage the knowledge generated in both academia and industry, connect the dots and accelerate new solution developments - not just for the sake of the bottom line, but in light of making our solutions greener, more sustainable, and ultimately reversing the exploitation of our planet.

Academia and industry can be perfect partners for R&D. Industry is time poor but problem rich, whereas academia is time rich but problem poor. Because industry has problems that are current it is a fertile ground for academia to help. So what are deal breakers that stop this being a marriage made in heaven. 1. Ownership of IP needed by Industry 2. Need to publish by academia 3. urgency for results from industry. Solve those up front and there is a winning relationship.

It is crucial to establish academic-industrial partnerships to increase applied research throughout the scientific community. Such partnerships can help bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical applications, allowing researchers to collaborate with industry professionals. Also, researchers can gain access to resources and funding that may not be available within academic institutions alone. At the same time, industry partners can benefit from academic researchers' expertise and innovative ideas. Overall, this approach can foster innovation, facilitate knowledge transfer, and ultimately lead to the developing of new technologies and solutions that benefit society.

Just a personal suggestion. For those considering a journey into the research world, whether in Academia or Industry, my recommendation is to maintain a persistent and proactive approach. At all times!