Efficient Collaboration between Industry and Universities: Opportunities, Challenges, and an Integrative Project Plan

Abstract Globalization and networking are constantly increasing, making cooperation between different institutions more crucial for continuous development. Collaboration remains a key success factor, especially in tackling complex tasks. A close link between theory and practice enables cooperation more efficiently by applying scientific findings in practice and, conversely, by incorporating practice‐related requirements into research. Therefore, this paper uses a literature review to analyze the specific features of the partnership relationship between industry and universities and the associated challenges and opportunities. Conflicts of interest, diverging objectives, and structural differences are analyzed. On this basis, an integrative project plan is methodically developed, including base durations, costs, uncertainties, and risks. Continuous collaboration with the project plan intends to meet the requirements of theory and practice more closely and reduce conflicts during collaboration. This is exemplified by a single case study related to developing a new combustion concept for sustainable engines. The result is a probabilistic project plan that reduces conflicts of interest and represents scientific‐technical cooperation, enabling knowledge transfer for industrial projects in the building sector.