University-Industry Interaction - An ACAPPI Report available free of charge from the EPS Secretariat in Geneva

University-Industry Interaction — Financial demands with no certain re turn; — Low priority given to research in mana An ACAPPI Report available free of charge gement evaluations. from the EPS Secretariat in Geneva Amongst the general recommendations that are made, are a plea for universities to Following the initiative in 1979 of one of which have big, well-equipped and well- modify their student training programmes its members who had prepared a report on funded laboratories, than for small indus to focus more on applied physics and to set the efforts made in Sweden to bridge the tries which are unable to support R Et D on up information secretariats on their re industry-university gap (Lundqvist D., Eu their own. Overall, it is found that univer search. Industry is urged to recognize the rophysics News 11 (1980) 4, 10) the EPS sities tend to discourage the younger phy importance of keeping closely in touch with Advisory Committee on Applied Physics sicists from being interested in the applica the academic sphere. Personal contacts are and Physics in Industry called for reviews tion of their research, and industry tends to vital, and arrangements need to be made from its members on the situation in their remain in ignorance of developments that for both university teachers as well as trainees to spend time in an industrial envi own country with the object of preparing a could mould their future production. Factors impeding the transfer of new ronment. Conversely R Et D people in in joint statement and recommendations. These have now been published with the knowledge through to a marketable pro dustry should be encouraged to give courses in universities and work there on endorsement of the EPS Executive Com duct are: mittee under the title: Improving Interac — Inertia in the acceptance of new sys appropriate subjects. Governments can do much by channell tion between Universities and Industries: tems; Promoting Applications of Physics, an EPS — Suspicion expressed by opinion for ing funds into joint projects, covering the risks inherent in projects which could be of report by Dick Lundqvist (EPS, Geneva) mers and politicians; 1983. Copies have already been sent to — Financial problems of supporting R & D national importance and establishing col lective R Et D institutes in special fields — with its inherent risk; Council members, the national societies — Long development times between re of especial value to the smaller industries. and Associate Members. Certain countries have made a success of search and final application. Printed on a B5 format and attractively "packaged", the report contains some 20 Among the problems discouraging a better "Science Parks" which facilitate the crea tion of spin-off companies from universi pages of analysis and evaluation that syn interaction are, on the university side: thesise the diverse comments that were — Lack of experience in conducting pro ties, but all governments can make a real contribution by eliminating needless bu jects on to application; received. As the introduction states "... measures used varied a great deal from — Lack of experience in taking cost-effi reaucracy. EPS too has a role. Within ACAPPI it is ciency into account; country to country according to the organi zation of the scientific community and — Reluctance to accept time constraints proposed to keep the subject under con tinuous review and to pursue the policy of or long term commitments; economic system" but there is a commo nality of problems and, in general, dissatis — Unclear rules governing external coope stimulating meetings on the application of new physics and pressing for a proper ration. faction with the present state. Industry and representation of applied subjects in major university are seen to exist side by side with On the industry side: little reference to each other. This is — Inadequate understanding of university conferences. ACAPPI also proposes to launch a number of case studies to learn of conditions; perhaps less serious for large industries, New Members of EPS CATEGORY 4a) M. Ibrahim, Sohag, Egypt C.-E. Morosanu, Bucharest, R P. Paillère, Sceaux, F CATEGORY 4c) Austrian Physical Society J.W. Edenstrasser, Innsbruck M. Faber, Vienna C.W. Fabjan, CERN, CH H. Gruber, Graz W. Lindinger, Innsbruck P. Mascher, Graz E. Schachinger, Graz F. Schoeberl, Vienna Danish Physical Society U.G. Jϕrgensen, Copenhagen Eötvös Lorand Physical Society L. Cser, Budapest L. Nanai, Szeged French Physical Society J.M. Besson, Paris S. Bratos, Paris 8 German Physical Society M. Abd-Elmeguid, Bochum G. Brusdeylins, Gottingen P. Grosse, Aachen K. Lackner, Garching L. Merten, Münster-Roxel W. Trautmann, Upton, USA Hellenic Physical Society A. Markou, CERN, CH The Netherlands' Physical Society J. van der Klink, Lausanne, CH J. van Paradijs, Amsterdam Turkish Physical Society H. Ögelman, Ankara Norwegian Physical Society J. Lothe, Oslo CATEGORY 4d) Physical Section, Union of Yugoslav Societies of Mathematicians, Physi cists and Astronomers J. Brana, Sarajevo Polish Physical Society S. Glazek, Warsaw B. Sikora, Warsaw H. Stachowiak, Wroclaw W. Suski, Wroclaw Md. Abdul Mazed, Santa Barbara, USA F.W. de Wette, Austin, USA J. -P. Didelez, Orsay, F E. Fawcett, Toronto, Canada K. Gentle, Austin, USA V. Litovchenko, Norman, USA K.S. Rajput, Bhopal, India A.L. Rogister, Jülich, D H.S. Taylor, Los Angeles, USA A. Wokaun, Zurich, CH ASSOCIATE MEMBERS Icelandic Physical Society T.l. Sigfusson, Reykjavik Portuguese Physical Society M. de Carvalho Fernandes Tomaz, Aveiro M.E.M.F. Pereira, Aveiro CISE —Centre for Information, Studies & Experiments POB 12081 I-20134 Milan The Institute of Physics F. Davey, Clitheroe A. Peacock, Derby P. Schofield, Abingdon Romanian National Committee for Physics I.N. Mihailescu, Bucharest I. Muscutariu, Timisoara ELSAG — Elettronica San Giorgio Via Hermada 6 POB 125 I-16154 Genova-Sestri Institute "Ruder Boskovic" G. Paic, Zagreb Spanish Royal Society of Physics A. Giro Roca, Barcelona Swedish Physical Society J. Bernhard, Uppsala Tungsram United Incandescent Lamp and Electrical Company Limited Vaci ut 77 H-1340 Budapest Swiss Physical Society Ch. Rossel, Geneva D. Schreyer, Lausanne Vacuumschmelze GmbH Grüner Weg 37 D-6450 Hanau 1 Italian Physical Society C.E. Bottani, Milan B. Catania, Turin L. Miglio, Milan N. Terzi, Milan the strengths and weaknesses of universi ty-industry collaborations that are in opera tion. Interaction with our own Associate Members is to be intensified. The national societies of EPS are urged to exert pressure in their own countries on governments, university authorities and industry to take action along the lines indicated and to treat the subject as both serious and urgent. Copies of the full report are available, free of charge, on request from the EPS Secretariat in Geneva. Helping Developing Countries International Physics Impressions of the EPS Symposium on International Facilities (...truncated)