Abstract
Aalto University was formed by merging Helsinki University of Technology, Helsinki School of Economics and University of Applied Arts in about three years ago. Via the root universities Aalto has a long tradition in industry co-operation.
University as an institution acts like a stage, market or newspaper just as empowering or as a channel for research, art, and learning. Professors, researchers and students provide results and can commit themselves to trends and matters. The common goal for everyone is to find and learn new things.
In its strategy, Aalto University has highlighted societal impact as one of the core areas that guide all activities. Nurturing societal interaction and impact requires the support and involvement of the university community as a whole and the active student body in fact often initiates social debate
The co-operation with industry takes place on different levels and different ways. In this kind of activity one important issue is how to find balance with science need for openness and industry needs for not letting competitors or customers to know too early about forthcoming products and processes.
KEYWORDS – University-Industry collaboration; Innovation; Technology Transfer; Multidisciplinary higher education