ECOSYSTEM APPROACH TO INDUSTRY ENGAGEMENT

Part 1

Two important skills that I absorbed and learned from the MIT ecosystem are:

- think fast

- seeing the big picture

MIT as a learning/research institution as well as an innovation provider has a distinct character (with the two things above) in the approach to industry engagement. It seems to be no coincidence that what I see in the field both when talking to the corporate world and the ministry, the two abilities above are very relevant and necessary. Why? Because I still see practices where an important program that should be sustainable is done sporadically or with a short-term mindset (no understanding of the context and big picture). Sometimes even in the category of spending the budget. No proper studies are conducted before, during and after implementation. It's unfortunate, when in fact we can use limited resources more accountably and leave a measurable impact.

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Therefore, recently, we introduced an academic paper-based approach for engagement both in the industry and in the ministry. This is also part of the ecosystem approach, where engagement is not B2B but E2B (or E2G). The immediate benefits of this approach are

1. Diverse Expertise

The consortium in the ecosystem consists of various stakeholders with different roles and expertise. This diversity drives creativity and innovation, as each partner brings a unique perspective.

2. Comprehensive (End to end) Solutions

With each partner focusing on their specific strengths, the consortium is able to offer comprehensive solutions to industry challenges. This allows our clients to access a wide range of services and expertise, making us a valuable and reliable partner.

3. Risk Mitigation

Sharing risks and responsibilities among consortium partners helps mitigate individual risks. In the event of setbacks or challenges, partners can pool their resources and knowledge to find solutions, ensuring that no single entity bears the burden alone.

4. Market Expansion

The ecosystem approach allows for a wider market reach. Each partner is likely to have its own network and client base, which can be leveraged collectively. This not only benefits our university, but also our partners in terms of expanding their own markets.

5. Resource Optimization

Partners can pool resources, reducing duplication and overhead costs. By sharing infrastructure, personnel and facilities, we can optimize projects and improve efficiency, ensuring that resources are used effectively.

6. Innovation Acceleration

Collaboration between university research capabilities and industry expertise enables rapid prototyping and testing of new ideas. This agility accelerates the development and application of new technologies or methodologies.

7. Knowledge Transfer

The consortium facilitates knowledge transfer between academia and industry. This not only increases the productivity of research publications, but also ensures that the research conducted has real-world applications, thus creating positive feedback.

8. Flexibility

The ecosystem approach allows for flexibility in adapting to changing market demands and technological trends. By leveraging the collective knowledge and experience of the consortium, we can quickly pivot and diversify when needed, and stay one step ahead.

9. Long-term Sustainability

By working together and strengthening industry engagement as a collective, partners are better positioned for long-term sustainability. As a consortium, we can adapt to evolving market dynamics, embrace technological advancements, and remain competitive in the long term.

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No. 2 above relates to looking at the big picture, while No. 6 relates to providing quick thinking.

If the 9 points are dissected more comprehensively, it might take the form of a book. It seems that it would be very useful to be a reference for how to engage with the industry productively, but that's another topic.

If this point is well utilized, then I believe Indonesia's global innovation index will rise. Research conducted in the ecosystem will have an impact on solving real industrial problems. Our researchers' H-index is not 30-50 but 100-200.

I will also share in an online seminar as part of my community service about this approach and how it will fundamentally increase the innovation index (as well as publication productivity). If there are innovators/lecturers/researchers who want to see their productivity increase 2x or 5x, maybe they can attend and absorb insights. If interested, please leave info at the following link.

https://bit.ly/3QXQgWu

(to be continued)